Band-like Charge Transport in Phytic Acid-Doped Polyaniline Thin Films

We explore the charge transport properties of phytic acid (PA) doped polyaniline thin films prepared by the surfactant monolayer-assisted interfacial synthesis (SMAIS). Structural and elemental analysis confirms the inclusion of PA in the thin films and reveals a progressive loss of crystallinity with the increase of PA doping content. Charge transport properties are interrogated by time-resolved terahertz (THz) spectroscopy. Notably, independently of doping content and hence crystallinity, the frequency-resolved complex conductivity spectra in the THz region can be properly described by the Drude model, demonstrating band-like charge transport in the samples and state-of-the-art charge carrier mobilities of approximate to 1 cm(2)V(-1)s(-1). A temperature-dependent analysis for the conductivity further supports band-like charge transport and suggest that charge carrier mobility is primarily limited by impurity scattering. This work highlights the potential of PA doped polyaniline for organic electronics.

Automated summary

The research investigates the charge transport properties of phytic acid (PA) doped polyaniline thin films prepared by the surfactant monolayer-assisted interfacial synthesis (SMAIS). The study shows that the charge transport in the samples displays band-like behavior and exhibits state-of-the-art charge carrier mobilities of approximate to 1 cm(2)V(-1)s(-1) in the THz region. Temperature-dependent analysis further supports band-like charge transport, suggesting that impurity scattering primarily limits charge carrier mobility in the films. This work highlights the potential of PA doped polyaniline for organic electronics.