Investigation of structural optical and electrical properties of PEDOT PSS/Au/PEDOT PSS multilayer films

Abstract

PEDOT:PSS/Au/PEDOT:PSS multilayer films were successfully prepared and investigated. The PEDOT:PSS and Au layers were prepared using spin coating and DC sputtering respectively. The thickness of the Au layer was varied within the range of 2-10 nm to investigate its impact on the resulting multilayer films. The amorphous nature of the multilayer films was interpreted from X-ray diffraction analysis. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy identified that the multilayer films were the major surface chemical structure of PEDOT:PSS. The optical transmittance and sheet resistance characteristics of the multilayer films exhibited a significant reduction owing to the presence of the Au interlayer. In order to evaluate the optical-electrical properties of the multilayer films a figure of merit (FOM) was calculated. Remarkably the multilayer films featuring a thin Au layer of 2 nm yielded the highest FOM value. Therefore it can be demonstrated that multilayer films of PEDOT:PSS/Au/PEDOT:PSS fabricated with a thin Au layer can be applicable for utilization in optoelectronic devices. ? 2023 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.