Role of aggregates and microstructure of mixed-ionic–electronic-conductors on charge transport in electrochemical transistors
Garrett LeCroy, Camila Cendra, Tyler J. Quill, Maximilian Moser, Rawad K. Hallani, James F. Ponder, Kevin H. Stone, Stephen Dongmin Kang, Allen Yu-Lun Liang, Quentin Thiburce, Iain McCulloch, Frank C. Spano, Alexander Giovannitti, Alberto Salleo
Abstract
X-ray scattering electrochemical charging experiments and find that polymer chains planarize during electrochemical charging. Our work shows that the most effective conductivity modulation is related to electrochemical accessibility of well-ordered, interconnected aggregates that host high mobility electronic charge carriers. Electrochemical stress cycling induces microstructural changes, but we find that these aggregates can largely maintain order, providing insights on the structural stability and reversibility of electrochemical charging in these systems. This work shows the importance of material design for creating OMIECs that undergo structural rearrangements to accommodate ions and electronic charge carriers during which percolating networks are formed for efficient electronic charge transport.