Efficient charge transport of multi-layer stack 2D conductive polymers. Credit: Nimte
An international research team has integrated multi-layer 2D polyaniline (2DPANI) crystals to achieve unique metal out-of-plane charge transport and high conductivity. This study was published in nature.
Conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polythiophene, and polypyrrole are well known for their electrical conductivity and have significant potential as low-cost, lightweight, flexible alternatives to traditional semiconductors and metals.
However, efficient charge transport, particularly between polymer chains, is a critical challenge, thereby limiting the performance and practical application of polymer introduction.
In response to this challenge, researchers from the Institute of Materials Technology Engineering (NIMTE), Tu Dresden, Max Planck Institute of MicroStructure Physics, and CIC Nanogune BRTA, were new to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). 2dpani crystals have been developed . By topology-directed 2D polymerization of aniline using anionic surfactant monolayers on the water surface.
The domain size of 2DPANI crystals ranges from 130 to 160 square micrometers (μm2) and can range from tens to hundreds of nanometers. It has a columnar π array with interlayer spacing of 3.59 anstroms (Å) and rhombohedral lattices, and a specific type of crystal structure formed by woven polyaniline chains. This structure promotes strong in-plane conjugation and interlayer electron coupling, as confirmed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and first-principles calculations.
The synthesized conductive polymer exhibited drude-type conductivity and an extrapolated direct current conductivity of approximately 200 s/cm. Anisotropic charge transport was also observed, with out-of-plane and in-plane conductivity measured at approximately 7 s/cm and 16 s/cm, respectively.
In particular, vertical devices have demonstrated an increase in conductivity at low temperatures, a characteristic of metallic off-transportation.
This advancement in conducting polymer research addresses the limited charge transport problem caused by insufficient structural order and electron bonding. This study also provides insight into three-dimensional metal conductivity, opening new avenues for electrode development, electromagnetic shielding and sensors.
Details: Tao Zhang et al, 2D polyaniline crystals with metal out-of-plane conductivity, natural (2025). doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08387-9
Provided by the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Citation: Scientists obtained a highly conductive 2D conductive polymer (2025) from https://phys.org/news/2025-02-scientists-2d-polymer.html on February 8, 2025 , February 6th) will be synthesized.
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