SOLUTION PROCESSING OF A DOPED CONDUCTING POLYMER

The solution processing of doped conducting polymers is a fast and simple method by which conducting articles may be formed, although aggregation of the polymer upon doping may inhibit processing. Solutions of poly(3-octylthiophene) (P3OT) doped with FeCl3.6H2O and NOPF6 were found to exhibit varying degrees of aggregation dependent upon the polymer concentration and doping level. However, we have found that coherent films with conductivities up to 1 S/cm may be cast directly from the doped solutions. The effect of doping level and other factors on the physical state of the doped solutions is discussed and related to the conductivity achieved in the solution-cast films.