Effect of intrachain sulfonic acid dopants on the solid-state charge mobility of a model radical polymer

Abstract

Radical polymers are an emerging class of non-conjugated, charge-conducting macromolecules that are capable of transporting charge through localized oxidation–reduction (redox) reactions that occur at the stable radical groups present as the pendant groups of the macromolecular chains. The chemical nature and oxidation state of these pendant radical groups are critical to the charge transporting abilities of radical polymers in the solid state. To date, however, the control of this chemistry has been limited to external oxidizing agents, and the concept of intramolecular dopants has not been explored fully. To this end, we have synthesized poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy methacrylate)-co-poly(vinylsulfonic acid sodium salt) (PTMA-co-PVS). Then, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are implemented to evaluate the exact chemical nature of the pendant groups as a function of the PVS intramolecular dopants and exposure of the materials to external oxidation reactions. We correlate these changes in pendant group chemistry to charge transport ability, and we establish that the inclusion of a moderate amount of PVS dopants can improve the solid-state hole mobility of the material. Conversely, a large amount of sulfonic acidic dopants can be detrimental to the transport of the polymer relative to the homopolymer PTMA. Therefore, refinement of pendant group chemistry and careful addition of intramolecular dopants can enhance the solid-state transport ability of a radical polymer system. These fundamental principles, in turn, provide a vital foothold by which to optimize the solid-state charge transporting ability of current and next-generation radical polymer designs.