PRAP-CVD: Up-scalable process for the deposition of PEDOT thin films

Material Research & Technology Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Institute, 41, rue du Brill, Belvaux, L-4422, Luxembourg

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2019, 10 (3), pp 201-205

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2019.2186

Publication Date (Web): Dec 31, 2018

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: biancarita.pistillo@list.lu

Abstract

Plasma radicals assisted polymerization via CVD (PRAP-CVD) is emerging as an efficient alternative to conventional vapour based techniques to synthesise and deposit conjugated polymers. PRAP-CVD process is based on the concomitant but physically separated injection of low-energy oxidative radical initiators and vaporized monomer species into a reactor where temperature and pressure are finely controlled. Gas phase oxidative radicals are generated by a remote plasma chamber from a pure or diluted initiator. The low deposition temperature, below 100 °C, allows polymers to be directly synthesised on a wide range of substrates, including fabric, paper and plastic, without any thermal degradation and keeping a high degree of surface conformality. Additionally, the PRAP-CVD does not require post-deposition rinsing procedure which allows a wider range of application. PRAP-CVD PEDOT depositions have been carried out on different substrates with a transparency higher than 80% in the visible range. 

Keywords

Conjugated polymers, PEDOT, conductive polymers, PRAP-CVD.