Highly Conductive and Conformal Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Thin Films via Oxidative Molecular Layer Deposition

This work introduces oxidative molecular layer deposition (oMLD) as a chemical route to synthesize highly conductive and conformal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films via sequential vapor exposures of molybdenum(V) chloride (MoCl5, oxidant) and ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT, monomer) precursors. The growth temperature strongly affects PEDOT’s crystalline structure and electronic conductivity. Films deposited at ∼150 °C exhibit a highly textured crystalline structure, with {010} planes aligned parallel with the substrate. Electrical conductivity of these textured films is routinely above 1000 S cm–1, with the most conductive films exceeding 3000 S cm–1. At lower temperatures (∼100 °C) the films exhibit a random polycrystalline structure and display smaller conductivities. Compared with typical electrochemical, solution-based, and chemical vapor deposition techniques, oMLD PEDOT films achieve high conductivity without the need for additives or postdeposition treatments. Moreover, the sequential-reaction synthesis method produces highly conformal coatings over high aspect ratio structures, making it attractive for many device applications.