Synergistic effects in ambipolar blends of mixed ionic–electronic conductors †

Journal article

Organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors (OMIECs) are extensively utilized in bioelectronics, serving as essential components for converting biological signals into electronic ones. In the realm of ambipolar OMIECs, which support the transport of both electrons and holes, recent studies have introduced a novel blend approach to simplify fabrication and enhance tunability. However, these systems remain scarce, and the urge to advance blend-based OMIEC research is still emerging. Here, we present an extensive investigation of a polymer–fullerene ambipolar system, revealing the remarkable relationship between blend microstructure and system performance. Our results demonstrate that the capacitance and mobility of the blend components exhibit synergistic enhancements, surpassing the values observed in pristine materials. Additionally, the transient response time indicates a significant advantage for blends over pristine materials. These findings are elucidated through a schematic illustration of the blend morphology, providing profound insights into the properties of this system. This comprehensive study paves the way for the improved design of ambipolar OMIECs for use in bio-interfaces, advanced sensing applications, and innovative electronic devices.

Authors: Stein, E; Simotko, S; Yadav, Y; Cavassin, P; McCulloch, I

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Journal: Materials Horizons
• Publication date: 2025-05-07
• Acceptance date: 2025-04-28
• DOI: 10.1039/d5mh00293a
• EISSN: 2051-6355
• ISSN: 2051-6347
• Language: English