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How intermolecular geometrical disorder affects the molecular doping of donor–acceptor copolymers

Author

Listed:
  • Daniele Di Nuzzo

    (University of Bath)

  • Claudio Fontanesi

    (University of Bath
    Universita’ di Modena e Reggio Emilia)

  • Rebecca Jones

    (University of Bath)

  • Sybille Allard

    (Macromolecular Chemistry Group and Institute for Polymer Technology, Bergische Universität Wuppertal)

  • Ines Dumsch

    (Macromolecular Chemistry Group and Institute for Polymer Technology, Bergische Universität Wuppertal)

  • Ullrich Scherf

    (Macromolecular Chemistry Group and Institute for Polymer Technology, Bergische Universität Wuppertal)

  • Elizabeth von Hauff

    (Physics of Energy, VU University Amsterdam)

  • Stefan Schumacher

    (Universität Paderborn
    College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona)

  • Enrico Da Como

    (University of Bath)

Abstract

Molecular doping of conjugated polymers represents an important strategy for improving organic electronic devices. However, the widely reported low efficiency of doping remains a crucial limitation to obtain high performance. Here we investigate how charge transfer between dopant and donor–acceptor copolymers is affected by the spatial arrangement of the dopant molecule with respect to the copolymer repeat unit. We p-dope a donor–acceptor copolymer and probe its charge-sensitive molecular vibrations in films by infrared spectroscopy. We find that, compared with a related homopolymer, a four times higher dopant/polymer molar ratio is needed to observe signatures of charges. By DFT methods, we simulate the vibrational spectra, moving the dopant along the copolymer backbone and finding that efficient charge transfer occurs only when the dopant is close to the donor moiety. Our results show that the donor–acceptor structure poses an obstacle to efficient doping, with the acceptor moiety being inactive for p-type doping.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniele Di Nuzzo & Claudio Fontanesi & Rebecca Jones & Sybille Allard & Ines Dumsch & Ullrich Scherf & Elizabeth von Hauff & Stefan Schumacher & Enrico Da Como, 2015. "How intermolecular geometrical disorder affects the molecular doping of donor–acceptor copolymers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7460
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7460
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