Quantitative Measurements of the Temperature-Dependent Microscopic and Macroscopic Dynamics of a Molecular Dopant in a Conjugated Polymer

Understanding the nature of dopant dynamics in the solid state is critical for improving the longevity and stability of organic electronic devices and for optimizing the doping-induced solubility control (DISC) patterning method. In this work, we use quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) and fluorescence quenching techniques to develop a comprehensive picture of both the microscopic and macroscopic dynamics of the soluble p-type molecular dopant tetrafluoromethyloxycarbonyltricyanoquinodimethane (F4MCTCNQ) in the conductive polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT). Specifically, fast dynamics (ps–ns) of the dopant, such as the methyl and the methoxycarbonyl group rotations, are observed in QENS experiments. From confocal fluorescence microscope experiments, longer-range/slower dopant diffusion (ms–days) is captured. However, in order to fit these data, it is necessary to incorporate a Langmuir isotherm equilibrium between the neutral and ionized dopant molecules. Ionized F4MCTCNQ is strongly favor...