Effect of FeCl3 on the stability of π-conjugation of electronic polymer

Understanding the chemistry of chemical doping, which is necessary to generate charge carriers in π-conjugated polymers, have become increasingly important for increasing charge carrier mobility, a primary requisite for the development of polymer electronic devices. An evidence for disruption in π-conjugation upon increase in doping is evidenced by changes in characteristics bands in Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, influence of structural damage on morphological changes in atomic force microscopy (AFM) and monitoring the conductivity patterns versus doping concentrations. Quest for finding the reason behind such an unwanted chemistry is uncovered by solution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy of various combinations of dopant and to be doped species. Knowing the reason of disruption of π-conjugation will prove useful in developing careful doping chemistries, utterly important for polymer electronic devices.