In situ Wilhelmy balance surface energy determination of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) during electrochemical doping-dedoping

Changes in the contact angle between conjugated polymers surface poly(3-hexylthiophene) [P3HT] and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) upon electrochemical doping-dedoping in aqueous electrolyte were determined in situ using a Wilhelmy plate tensiometer in an electrochemical cell. The hydrophobic P3HT was less hydrophobic in the oxidized state than in the neutral state; the more hydrophilic PEDOT was less hydrophilic in the oxidized state than when neutral. The tensiometry results were in good agreement with those measured by contact angle goniometry, and further corroborated by the capillary rise upon doping in a fluid cell with two parallel polymer coated plates, another in situ dynamic determination method. The contact angle changes depend on doping potential, electrolyte type, and concentration. We also deconvoluted the surface energy into components of van der Waals and acid-base interactions, using three probe liquids on the polymer surfaces, ex situ the electrochemical cell. The methods and the obtained results are relevant for the science and technology areas of printed electronics and electrochemical devices and for the understanding of surface energy modification by electrochemical doping.