Photocatalytic doping of organic semiconductors

Chemical doping is crucial for optimizing organic semiconductor (OSC) performance in various devices. Conventional methods often use highly reactive dopants, which are consumed during the process. This paper introduces a novel photocatalytic doping method using air as a weak oxidant (p-dopant) at room temperature. This general approach, applicable to diverse OSCs and photocatalysts, achieves conductivities exceeding 3,000 S cm⁻¹. The study also demonstrates photocatalytic reduction (n-doping) and simultaneous p- and n-doping, consuming only the organic salt maintaining charge neutrality. This method offers significant potential for advancing OSC doping and organic electronics.

Wenlong Jin, Chi-Yuan Yang, Riccardo Pau, Qingqing Wang, Eelco K. Tekelenburg, Han-Yan Wu, Ziang Wu, Sang Young Jeong, Federico Pitzalis, Tiefeng Liu, Qiao He, Qifan Li, Jun-Da Huang, Renee Kroon, Martin Heeney, Han Young Woo, Andrea Mura, Alessandro Motta, Antonio Facchetti, Mats Fahlman, Maria Antonietta Loi, Simone Fabiano