Organic electrochemical transistors based on PEDOT with different anionic polyelectrolyte dopants

Recent applications of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) in bioelectronics motivate the search for new materials with mixed electronic and ionic conductivity. We investigate the characteristics of a series of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based materials with a new class of anionic polyelectrolytes used as dopants and stabilizers, replacing the traditionally used poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS). We show that the backbone of the polyanion plays a major role in determining device performance, while its molecular weight and the counter ion used during PEDOT synthesis play a less important role. We find that transconductance increases with the degree of swelling of the film, consistent with enhanced ion transport. Finally, we identify a polymer that offers performance close to the state-of-the-art. This work highlights the importance of the polyanion phase as a means to control OECT performance.