Despite excellent electrical and mechanical properties, practical application of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polymerized with poly(4‐styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) face the challenge of ensuring air stability in electronic industry. Here, degradation mechanism of PEDOT:PSS‐based films in air is clearly demonstrated through X‐ray/ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS) and its depth‐profiling technique. As the duration of air‐exposure increases, the PEDOT:PSS‐based films alter molecular structures with the formation of SO_x bond in PEDOT and CN_x bond growth, changing ratios of insulating part (PSS⁻, PSSH, oxidized PEDOT) to conducting part and deteriorating their electrical conductivities. These transition behaviors are similar in all PEDOT:PSS‐based films regardless of additives such as dopant or multi‐walled carbon nanotube. Additionally, methanol treatment to various PEDOT:PSS‐based films for inducing conformational change between PEDOT and PSS molecules, partly restore the electrical properties of the denatured PEDOT:PSS films. Finally, thermoelectric properties of the PEDOT:PSS‐based films are characterized by investigating the effects of air‐aging and methanol treatment on electrical conductivities, Seebeck coefficients, and power factors. To sum up, this study provides a useful guideline for establishing a strategy to ensure air stability of PEDOT:PSS‐based films by clarifying the degradation mechanism and property recovery methods.

中文翻译：

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电学和热电学性质对PEDOT：PSS空气降解的原位光电子能谱研究

尽管具有出色的电气和机械性能，但聚（3,4-亚乙基二氧噻吩）与聚（4-苯乙烯磺酸盐）（PEDOT：PSS）聚合而成的实际应用仍面临着确保电子工业中空气稳定性的挑战。在此，通过X射线/紫外线光电子能谱（XPS / UPS）及其深度剖析技术可以清楚地证明PEDOT：PSS基薄膜在空气中的降解机理。随着空气暴露的增加的持续时间，PEDOT：PSS基于的膜改变分子结构与S的形成 ø _X在PEDOT和C键 Ñ _X键增长，改变绝缘部分的比率（PSS ^-，PSSH，氧化的PEDOT）导电部分并降低其电导率。在所有基于PEDOT：PSS的薄膜中，这些过渡行为都是相似的，而与诸如掺杂剂或多壁碳纳米管等添加剂无关。此外，对各种基于PEDOT：PSS的薄膜进行甲醇处理以诱导PEDOT和PSS分子之间的构象变化，部分恢复了变性PEDOT：PSS薄膜的电性能。最后，通过研究空气老化和甲醇处理对电导率，塞贝克系数和功率因数的影响，来表征基于PEDOT：PSS的薄膜的热电性能。综上所述，本研究为通过阐明降解机理和性能恢复方法，确保基于PEDOT：PSS的薄膜的空气稳定性提供了有用的指导。