Ultrahigh electrical conductivity in solution-sheared polymeric transparent films.

Brian J Worfolk, Sean C Andrews, Steve Park, Julia Reinspach, Nan Liu, Michael F Toney, Stefan C B Mannsfeld, Zhenan Bao

Index: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 112 , 14138-43, (2015)

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Abstract

With consumer electronics transitioning toward flexible products, there is a growing need for high-performance, mechanically robust, and inexpensive transparent conductors (TCs) for optoelectronic device integration. Herein, we report the scalable fabrication of highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) thin films via solution shearing. Specific control over deposition conditions allows for tunable phase separation and preferential PEDOT backbone alignment, resulting in record-high electrical conductivities of 4,600 ± 100 S/cm while maintaining high optical transparency. High-performance solution-sheared TC PEDOT:PSS films were used as patterned electrodes in capacitive touch sensors and organic photovoltaics to demonstrate practical viability in optoelectronic applications.