Electronic and optical properties of polymer thin films deposited by resonant infrared laser ablation

Abstract

We show that polymers with electronic and electrooptic functionality can be deposited by resonant infrared pulsed laser ablation from frozen solutions and suspensions. In some cases, the addition of a co-matrix to the native solution facilitates ablation and enhances performance. As specific examples we describe the deposition of the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS and the lightemitting polymer MEH-PPV. The conductivity of the best PEDOT:PSS films made by resonant infrared laser ablation is comparable to, and in some cases better than, that of spin-coated films. The MEH-PPV films have been incorporated into working polymer light-emitting diodes as evidence for the preservation of functionality.