Conductivity enhancement of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) films post-spincasting

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin films on indium tin oxide and glass substrates have been fabricated and subjected to a non-adiabatic annealing process. The films showed subtle changes in their structure and optical properties as well as an increase in conductivity due to the effects of rapid thermal annealing. Through a combination of Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy studies in conjunction with electrical characterization, and four-point probe measurements, material enrichment of conductive PEDOT domains at the polymer-metal interface have been demonstrated, which well explains the surface conductivity improvement of a thin film of PEDOT:PSS after annealing. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4768265]