Ultraviolet light-ozone treatment of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene)-based materials resulting in increased work functions

We describe a simple method to increase the work function of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene)-poly(perfluoroethylene sulfonic acid), PEDOT-PFESA, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonic acid), PEDOT-PSS, by short exposure to ultraviolet light and ozone. The creation of carbonyl groups in the surface region forms a dipole layer shifting the vacuum level with a followed increase in work function. It has been shown that the work function of PEDOT-PFESA can be increased by as much as ∼ 0.4 eV to the absolute value of 6.3 eV and by at least ∼ 0.2 eV for PEDOT-PSS to the absolute value of 5.4 eV. The increase in work function has also proven to be time dependent with the largest increasing rate occurring for short exposure times. Upon ozone treatment, both PEDOT and PSS are oxidized whereas PFESA seems to be unaffected.