Anisotropic hopping conduction in spin-coated PEDOT : PSS thin films

• The charge transport in spin-coated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been investigated as a function of temperature and electric field. Both the magnitude and the transport mechanism are found to be strongly anisotropic. This striking behavior is quantitatively explained in terms of a morphological model in which flattened, quasimetallic PEDOT-rich grains are organized in horizontal layers that are separated by continuous insulating PSS lamellas. In this model, the in-plane conductivity is described by three-dimensional variable range hopping between similar to 25 nm sized PEDOT-rich particles separated by subnanometer PSS barriers, while the out-of-plane conductivity is described by nearest-neighbor hopping between more widely spaced molecular sites. These length scales are supported by previously reported scanning probe measurements.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

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