Semiconductor‐to‐Metal‐like Transition Behavior under Temperature Variation for Inkjet Printed PEDOT:PSS Tracks Embedded in Polymer

Abstract

Herein, it is intended to show the effect of embedding an inkjet printed poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) track in an insulator polymer, impacting its electronic transition behavior, as a consequence of temperature variation. A transition from semiconductor‐to‐metal‐like behavior is observed, when the temperature is seen to exceed a certain value, which is of a nonchemical origin. Both the presented experimental and simulation results show how this transition really occurs. The proposed physical mechanism for explaining such a behavior is verified with good repeatability. The main conclusion indicates consideration of special precautions, while enclosing inkjet‐printed PEDOT:PSS‐based tracks or sensors operating under ambient conditions, along with fluctuations. This conclusion can potentially be applied to any other inkjet printed conductive organic polymer film embedded in an insulator that fulfills the conditions encountered in the experiments. The impact of this effect may be reduced and mitigated by using inkjet printing, in combination with other additive manufacturing technique. The results presented here are considered very important, as they lay the foundation for the correct compensation of the thermal drift of organic electronics‐based circuits.