Exploring electrical conductivity within mesoscopic phases of semi-conducting PEDOT:PSS films by Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study uses Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy to analyze the electrical behavior of mesoscopic phases in PEDOT:PSS films, revealing relaxation mechanisms and proposing a method to assess local conductivity within conducting regions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel methodology to investigate local conductivity in mesoscopic phases of PEDOT:PSS using dielectric spectroscopy.

Findings

Detection of two distinct relaxation mechanisms.

Identification of interfacial polarization effects.

Proposal of a new approach to assess local conductivity.

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : poly(styrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS), an optically transparent organic semi-conductor, constitutes a suspension of conducting PEDOT:PSS grains, shelled by an insulating layer of PSS. While a percolation network enhances dc conductivity, structural and electrical inhomogenity hinters electric charge flow giving rise to capacitance effects. In the present work, two distinct relaxation mechanisms are detected by Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS). Double polarization mechamisms are predicted by bi-phase suspension dielectric theory. Within the frame of interfacial polarization, we propose a methodology to have an insight into the local conductivity of the interior of mesoscopic conducting phase.