Thiophene-Based Conductive Polymers: Structural Order vs. Conductivity

Dominik Farka

Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

Polythiophenes dominate the field of conductive polymers. This is in particularly true for the renowned PEDOT, where particularly outstanding charge-transport properties were observed. In this talk, three, state-of-the-art conductive polymers synthesized via tube-furnace oxidative chemical vapour deposition (oCVD) are presented. We will focus on the role of substitution-effects, the role of the counter-ion in achieving large crystallites in thin-films and related charge transport. Alternative emerging methods will be discussed in terms of an outlook.

1.          Farka, D.; Coskun, H.; Gasiorowski, J.; Cobet, C.; Hingerl, K.; Uiberlacker, L. M.; Hild, S.; Greunz, T.; Stifter, D.; Sariciftci, N. S.; Menon, R.; Schoefberger, W.; Mardare, C. C.; Hassel, A. W.; Schwarzinger, C.; Scharber, M. C.; Stadler, P. Anderson-Localization and the Mott-Ioffe-Regel Limit in Glassy-Metallic PEDOT. AEM 2017, 3 (7), 1700050.

2.          Farka, D.; Greunz, T.; Yumusak, C.; Cobet, C.; Mardare, C. C.; Stifter, D.; Hassel, A. W.; Scharber, M. C.; Sariciftci, N. S. Overcoming Intra-Molecular Repulsions in PEDTT by Sulphate Counter-Ion. Science and Technology of Advanced Materials 2021, 22 (1), 985–997. https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2021.1961311.

3.          Farka, D.; Kříž, K.; Fanfrlík, J. Strategies for the Design of PEDOT Analogues Unraveled: The Use of Chalcogen Bonds and σ-Holes. J. Phys. Chem. A 2023, 127 (17), 3779–3787. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.2c08965.

4.          Farka, D.; Moreda, O. I.; Greunz, T.; Kříž, K.; Leeb, E.; Ulbricht, C.; Duchoslav, J.; Vacek, J.; Fanfrlík, J.; Yumusak, C.; Drnec, J.; Krajcovic, J.; Stifter, D.; Sariciftci, N. S. Polythieno[3,4-b]Pyrazine: Pathways to Metallic Charge-Transport. J. Mater. Chem. A 2025. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5ta01145k.

5.          Farka, D.; Ciganek, M.; Veselý, D.; Kalina, L.; Krajčovič, J. Epitaxial Guidance of Adamantyl-Substituted Polythiophenes by Self-Assembled Monolayers. ACS Omega 2024, 9, 38733–38742. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c04616.