Light Induced Damage in Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and its Derivatives Studied by Photoelectron Spectroscopy

• Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), usually known as PEDOT, and derivatives have attracted significant interest because of their high electrical conductivity. This electric property, however, deteriorates upon exposure to solar radiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to study the UV-light-induced chemical changes in doped PEDOT, as well as in both neutral and doped forms of its alkylated derivative—PEDOT-C14H29. Analysis of the XPS data indicates an oxidation of the sulfur in the thiophene ring. Apparently, photo-oxidation leads to the formation of sulfon groups, SO2, resulting in a disruption of π-conjugation in PEDOT, which there by diminishes the conductivity of the organic layer. This hypothesis is supported by the results of a study of model molecules for pristine and the oxidized PEDOT unit: 3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and 3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene and S-dioxide (EDOT-SO2), respectively.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Poly(3

4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Degradation

Photo-oxidation

Sulfon

TECHNOLOGY

TEKNIKVETENSKAP

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