Polydiketopyrrolopyrroles Carrying Ethylene Glycol Substituents as Efficient Mixed Ion-Electron Conductors for Biocompatible Organic Electrochemical Transistors

A comprehensive investigation of four polydiketopyrrolopyrroles (PDPPs) with increasing ethylene glycol (EG) content and varying nature of comonomer is presented, and guidelines for the design of efficient mixed ion-electron conductors (MIECs) are deduced. The studies in NaCl electrolyte-gated organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) reveal that a high amount of EG on the DPP moiety is essential for MIEC. The PDPP containing 52 wt% EG exhibits a high volumetric capacitance of 338 F cm(-3) (at 0.8 V), a high hole mobility in aqueous medium (0.13 cm(2) V-1 s(-1)), and a mu C* product of 45 F cm(-1) V-1 s(-1). OECTs using this polymer retain 97% of the initial drain-current after 1200 cycles (90 min of continuous operation). In a cell growth medium, the OECT-performance is fully maintained as in the NaCl electrolyte. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell viability assays reveal the excellent cell compatibility of these novel systems, showing no toxicity after 24 h of culture. Due to the excellent OECT performance with a considerable cycling stability for 1200 cycles and an outstanding cell compatibility, these PDPPs render themselves viable for in vitro and in vivo bioelectronics.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that PDPPs with high ethylene glycol content are crucial for the design of efficient mixed ion-electron conductors. These polymers exhibit high volumetric capacitance, high hole mobility, and outstanding cell compatibility in OECTs, making them promising for applications in in vitro and in vivo bioelectronics.