Controlled Dedoping and Redoping of N‐Doped Poly(benzodifurandione) (n‐PBDF)

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 34; no. 33
• Main Authors: Ke, Zhifan, Chaudhary, Jagrity, Flagg, Lucas Q., Baustert, Kyle N., Yusuf, Augustine O., Liu, Guangchao, You, Liyan, Graham, Kenneth R., DeLongchamp, Dean M., Mei, Jianguo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.08.2024; Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Subjects: Conducting polymers; Controllability; Doping; Electron transfer; n‐type doping; Optical properties; organic electronics; poly(benzodifurandione); Protons; Thin films
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202400255

The doping levels of conjugated polymers significantly influence their conductivity, energetics, and optical properties. Recently, a highly conductive n‐doped polymer called poly (3,7‐dihydrobenzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]difuran‐2,6‐dione) (poly(benzodifurandione), n‐PBDF) is discovered, opening new possibilities for n‐type conducting polymers in printed electronics and other fields. Controlling the doping level of n‐PBDF is of great interest due to its wide range of potential applications. Here controlled dedoping and redoping of n‐PBDF is reported and a mechanistic understating of such a process is provided. Dedoping occurs through electron transfer and proton capture, wherein the ionic dopants, tris(4‐bromophenyl)ammoniumyl hexachloroantimonate (Magic Blue), exhibit efficient proton capture ability and stronger interaction with n‐PBDF, resulting in high dedoping efficiency. Moreover, chemically dedoped PBDF can be redoped using various proton‐coupled electron transfer agents. By manipulating the doping levels of n‐PBDF thin films, ranging from highly doped to dedoped states, the system demonstrates controllable conductivity in five orders of magnitude, adjustable optical properties, and energetics. As a result, these characteristics demonstrate the potential applications of n‐PBDF in organic electrochemical transistors and thermoelectrics. The recent discovery of n‐PBDF marks a notable breakthrough in the realm of conducting polymers. This work reports on the controlled dedoping and redoping of n‐PBDF and offers a mechanistic understanding of the process. By controlling n‐PBDF between highly doped and dedoped states, the thin film demonstrates controllable conductivity, adjustable optical properties, and tunable energetics.