Catalyzed n-doping for next-generation organic electronics

Chemical doping is one of the most important methods to control charge transport in organic semiconductors and to improve device performance.

Compared with p-doping, n-doping of organic semiconductors is still a challenge, mainly due to low doping efficiency, typically < 10%.

Recently, we discovered that metal nanoparticles (e.g., Au) can catalyze molecular n-doping, resulting in greatly enhanced doping efficiency and electrical conductivity.

These preliminary results, published in Nature, raise intriguing questions concerning the doping mechanism and its ultimate impact on performance. In this project I will fill this knowledge gap by taking catalyzed n-doping to the next level of sophistication.

Specifically, I will: 1) synthesize ideal solution-processable catalysts for homogeneous catalyzed n-doping (month 1-30); 2) derive relevant structure-properties relationship to enable a general understanding of the catalyzed n-doping mechanism (month 6-36); 3) demonstrate high-performance organic conductors through catalyzed n-doping with metrics outperforming state-of-the-art n-type organic conductors (month 18-48) .

The team supported by this project will be composed of the applicant (50% involvement) and one postdoc (50% involvement).

Gaining a full understanding of catalyzed n-doping mechanism will open the path toward developing high-performance n-type organic conductors with potential breakthroughs in organic (opto-)electronics, bioelectronics, and printed electronics.