Electrophysiological biosensors enables a novel way to measure electrical activity of biological structures both in-vitro and in-vivo and represents valuable alternative to current cellular activity measuring methods. Within this work we will be focusing on development of organic semiconductor (PEDOT:PSS) based Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) and optimization of material printing methods used in their development. These transistors are meant to be able to transfer electrochemical signals within the cell membrane to electrical signal. Such sensors should be used for cytotoxicity testing of chemicals and potential drugs on cardiomyocytes. Main benefits of OECTs are in their higher sensitivity thanks to their ability to locally amplify electric signals, better noise-signal ratio and outstanding biocompatibility. Their development is undemanding and inexpensive due material printing methods and materials processable at room temperatures.

La selección y el desarrollo de un material funcional es todo un reto para el progreso de la sociedad actual. En los últimos 30 años se han venido investigando nuevos materiales funcionalizados con miras a adaptarlos en aplicaciones diagnósticas y terapéuticas (nanotecnológicas). Investigaciones recientes en el campo de la nanotecnología han sentado las bases en el desarrollo de sensores electroquímicos y biosensores. La función principal de estos dispositivos es transformar una información química en una señal analítica útil. Dentro de los sensores electroquímicos el tipo de señal, ya sea una intensidad de corriente o un potencial eléctrico, determinará el tipo de sensor. En el caso de los biosensores, un elemento biológico constituye la parte receptora, por lo que una proteína o enzima recibe la información permitiendo así el traspaso de electrones. A lo largo de los años se han desarrollado diferentes metodologías para estudiar la transferencia electrónica distinguiéndose 3 generaciones de biosensores: primera, segunda y tercera. Este trabajo se centra en estudiar dispositivos basados en la tercera generación, es decir, la transferencia de electrones entre el elemento biológico y la superficie del electrodo se produce de forma directa, sin necesidad de mediadores redox. La transferencia electrónica entre una proteína y un electrodo se produce gracias al contacto eléctrico. Para ello, se necesita inmovilizar el elemento biológico a la superficie del electrodo asegurando que la distancia de separación sea mínima y por tanto, la transferencia de carga, máxima. La inmovilización de una proteína es un proceso crítico y crucial para el desarrollo de un biosensor electroquímico. Dado que se confina la proteína en una región limitada en el espacio, se restringe en parte la libertad de movimiento del elemento biológico llevando a la desnaturalización de la proteína, pérdida de estabilidad del dispositivo y mal contacto eléctrico. La encapsulación de proteínas en matrices de sílice se lleva a cabo mediante el método sol-gel, proceso que tiene lugar en condiciones suaves (presión y temperatura ambiente). Éste es un procedimiento muy utilizado en inmovilización de diferentes biomoléculas para el desarrollo de dispositivos biosensores. La proteína redox elegida en esta tesis es el citocromo c (cyt c), hemoproteína sencilla cuyas propiedades físicas y químicas resultan interesantes en el estudio de electroquímica directa en diferentes electrodos. La transferencia electrónica entre proteína y electrodo puede mejorarse introduciendo materiales conductores en el sistema de estudio. El término polímero conductor se viene empleando en las últimas tres décadas para denominar a aquellos materiales sintéticos de naturaleza polimérica que presentan la capacidad de conducir la corriente eléctrica. El polímero conductor poli(3,4-etilendioxitiofeno) (PEDOT) se ha utilizado ampliamente en películas finas por su carácter electrónico, interesantes propiedades ópticas y su fácil síntesis. Comprender el mecanismo de transferencia electrónica entre el PEDOT y la proteína cyt c nos lleva al desarrollo de nuevos materiales modificados en el campo de los biosensores electroquímicos.

Research in recent years on novel materials in organic solar cells (OSCs) have contributed to a rapid advancement in OSC efficiency. Here, OSCs with the well-studied organic semiconductors poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl C60-butyric acid methylester (P3HT:PCBM) in a bulk heterojunction structure were prepared to establish a baseline procedure for fabrication and spin-sensitive spectroscopy. Spin-sensitive spectroscopy can be used to probe the spin-dependent processes and loss mechanism in OSCs. Understanding the microscopic processes enables research targeting loss mechanisms directly, which opens up for higher efficiency OSCs. Measurements with continuous wave electrically detected magnetic resonance (cwEDMR), continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (cwEPR) and transient (tr)EDMR were set up and followed by an initial study on the spin-dependent processes and their influence on the photocurrent. Signals from spin-dependent processes in the samples were seen for the three experiment series carried out, and well-functioning OSCs with consistent results were prepared. This thesis and the presented baseline fabrication and experimental setup procedures provide with valuable learnings for future research in the group AG Behrends enabling fabrication and spin-sensitive studies on novel materials in OSCs. It was found that post-processing annealing at 120 C for 5 min reduces S-shape behaviour in current-voltage curves, and over all improves poor current-voltage characteristics of the OSC samples fabricated. Further, influence from PEDOT:PSS was seen in cwEPR spectroscopy, indicating the presence of traps or free radicals in the PEDOT:PSS. In cwEDMR spectroscopy of the OSCs it was shown that the spin processes of bias-induced and photo-induced charge carriers influence the photocurrent in the same way. Finally, the authors suggest that results from spin-sensitive spectroscopy of degraded OSCs cannot be applied to non-degraded OSCs.

Organic solar cells have shown great promise of becoming a cheaper alternative to inorganic solar cells. Additionally, they can also be made semitransparent. To avoid using expensive indium tin oxide electrodes in organic solar cells the electrodes can be made from conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). However, these so-called PEDOT-PEDOT solar cells are prone to short-circuiting. The work behind this thesis thus aimed to find the cause of these short circuits. The initial working hypothesis assumed the hygroscopic PSS in the bottom electrode could attract water across the active layer when the top electrode layer was applied. This would then swell the bottom electrode and cause the active layer to crack leading to short circuits. Accordingly, swelling was investigated as it was suspected to be the main cause of the shorts. This was achieved by coating reflective substrates with different layers from the solar cell, dropping water on top of the stack and then filming the thin film interference effects. SEM, AFM and IR were also used for further analysis. Although the bottom electrode swells, it was found that water does not cause permanent cracking. Instead, the research unveiled that water causes a formation of blisters, which are suspected to be made of PSS. The exact mechanism for the formation of the shorts remains unclear however.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt eine experimentelle Untersuchung der Schichtbildung von nichtnewtonschen Flüssigkeiten im Tiefdruckverfahren auf nicht saugfähigen Substraten. Das fluiddynamisch bedingte „viscous fingering“ beim Farbspaltungsprozess soll mittels Hydrophobieren der Druckform gehemmt werden. Ziel ist es, möglichst homogene sowie wellenfreie Schichten zu erzeugen. Um ein direkt miteinander vergleichbares Druckergebnis zu erhalten, wird der Druckstoff parallel mit einer unbehandelten und hydrophobierten Form bedruckt. Als Druckstoff werden anstelle von Druckfarbe funktionale Materialien (vorzugsweise PEDOT:PSS) verwendet und variiert, wobei die elektrischen und geometrischen Schichteigenschaften, beispielsweise der elektrische Widerstand und die Rauheit, zur Ermittlung der gesetzten Ziele untersucht wurden. Hiermit und mittels Nutzung einer hydrophobierten Druckform kann eine deutliche Minderung der Wellenbildung (viscous fingering) bei vielen Druckstoffarten beobachtet werden. Die Minderung des viscous fingering im Farbspaltungsprozess und eine nahezu vollständige Leerung der hydrophobierten Tiefdruckform haben einen wesentlichen Nutzwert für den künftigen Einsatz nicht nur für die „gedruckte Elektronik“. / In this work is described experimental research about layer forming from non-Newtonian fluids in gravure printing on non-porous substrates. The viscous fingering, caused through fluid dynamics at splitting of printed material should be decreased by hydrophobic-surface modification of gravure printing form. The aim was to print wave-free homogenous layers. To achieve comparable results, modified and pure form were used simultaneously to print the same material. The printed material was mainly PEDOT:PSS and other, which is used in printed electronics. The properties (surface tension, viscosity) of printed materials were varied by additives. Printing conditions were varied too. The characteristic of printed layers were studied: resistivity, roughness, density, etc. The results shows decreasing of waviness, roughness and viscous fingering in final layer through use of hydrophobic gravure printing form, compared to print results with common printing form. This can be applied not only in the field of printed electronics.

Une cellule photovoltaïque organique est constituée d’une couche photoabsorbante comprise entre deux électrodes dont l’une au moins est transparente. Généralement, les cellules sont illuminées au travers de l’électrode inférieure transparente d’oxyde d’indium dopé à l’étain (ITO). Néanmoins, de nombreuses applications comme l’automobile nécessitant un éclairage par le dessus du module, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'élaboration de cellules photovoltaïques sur substrat flexible, avec l'électrode inférieure opaque et l'électrode transparente déposée sur le dessus de la cellule. Deux types d'architectures ont été développés. Dans le premier cas, la cellule solaire organique finale a été entièrement déposée par des techniques de dépôt en voie liquide avec les deux électrodes en PEDOT:PSS imprimées par jet d’encre. Dans le second cas, les cellules ont été élaborées sur électrode d'argent avec une électrode supérieure transparente tricouche oxyde/métal/oxyde (MoO3/Ag/MoO3) évaporée thermiquement. Les cellules solaires organiques réalisées selon la seconde architecture ont été connectées en série afin de créer un module photovoltaïque organique. Ce dernier a permis d’alimenter et de faire briller une LED. / An organic solar cell is made of a photoactive layer sandwiched between two electrodes among which one at least is transparent. Usually, solar cells are illuminated through the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) bottom transparent electrode. Nevertheless, many applications like automobile requiring illumination from above the module, we designed photovoltaic cells on a flexible substrate, with an opaque bottom electrode and a top transparent one. Two types of architectures were developed. At first, the final organic solar cell was fully deposited by solution-process with both electrodes made of ink-jet printed PEDOT:PSS. Then the cells were elaborated on a silver bottom electrode with a transparent evaporated oxide/metal/oxide (MoO3/Ag/MoO3) top electrode. The organic solar cells made according to the second structure were connected in series to create an organic photovoltaic module. It allowed to power and shine a white LED.

With the advancements in the field of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), more and more applications require the sensor nodes to have long lifetime. Energy harvesting sources, e.g. thermoelectric generators (TEGs), can be used to increase the lifetime and capability of the WSNs. Integration of energy harvesters into sensor nodes of WSNs can realize self powered systems, providing the possibility for maintenance free WSNs. TEGs can convert the existing temperature differences into electricity. The efficiency of TEGs is directly related to the dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) of materials, which is given as ZT=σS^2 T/k, where σ is the electrical conductivity, S is the Seebeck coefficient, k is the thermal conductivity, T is the temperature and σS^2 is the power factor. Traditional thermoelectric (TE) materials are based on inorganic materials, of which the thermal conductivity is high. Over the past decade, the use of nanostructuring technology, e.g. superlattice, could decrease the thermal conductivity in order to enhance the efficiency of TE materials. However, the high cost and the rigidity of inorganic TE materials are limiting factors. As alternatives, polymer based materials have become the research focus due to their intrinsic low thermal conductivity, high flexibility and high electrical conductivity. Moreover, polymer based materials could be fabricated in solution form, giving the possibility for employing printing techniques hence a decrease in the production cost. Unlike the typical approach, in which secondary dopants are added into PEDOT:PSS solutions to modify the power factor of polymer films, this thesis is focused on a more efficient method to improve TE properties. This thesis demonstrates for the first time that post treatment of PEDOT:PSS films with the secondary dopant DMSO as the medium results in a much larger power factor than the traditional addition method. The post treatment method also avoids the usually required mixing step involved in the addition method. Different solvents were selected to discuss the impact factors in the modification of the power factor by this post treatment approach. The post treatment of PEDOT:PSS films was then extended to utilize a green solvent EMIMBF_4 (an ionic liquid) as the medium. EMIMBF_4 is found to exchange ions with PEDOT:PSS films. As a result, the EMIM^+ cations remain in the films and reduce the oxidation level of PEDOT chains, which affects the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity. Furthermore, TE materials based on hybrid composites with polymer as the matrix and Te nanostructures as the nanoinclusions were investigated. This thesis successfully developed a green synthesis method to obtain Te nanostructures, in which a non toxic reductant and a non toxic Te sources were used. Well controlled Te nanostructures including nanorods, nanowires and nanotubes were synthesized by wet chemical and hydrothermal synthesis. Those as synthesized Te nanowires were then integrated into PEDOT:PSS solution for composite films fabrication. A high Seebeck coefficient up to 200 μV/K was observed in the composite film. / Mit den Weiterentwicklungen der Drahtlosen Sensornetzwerke (engl. WSN, wireless sensor networks) stellen immer mehr Anwendungen die Forderung einer langen Lebensdauer der Sensorknoten. Energiegewinnungssysteme (engl. Energy Harvesters) wie z.B. thermoelektrische Generatoren (TEGs) können genutzt werden, um die Lebensdauer und Leistungsfähigkeit der WSN zu steigern. Mit der Integration von Energy Harvesters können WSN ohne äußere Stromversorgung realisiert und somit die Möglichkeit zur Wartungsfreiheit geschaffen werden. TEGs liefern Energie durch die Umwandlung einer Temperaturdifferenz in Elektrizität. Die Effektivität der TEG ist direkt verbunden mit der Material-Kennzahl ZT und ist gegeben durch ZT=σS^2 T/k, wobei σ die elektrische Leitfähigkeit ist, S der Seebeck Koeffizient, k die thermische Leifähigkeit, T die Temperatur und σS^2 der Leistungsfaktor. Herkömmliche thermoelektrische (TE) Materialien basieren auf anorganischen Materialien, von denen die thermische Leitfähigkeit hoch ist. Im Laufe des letzten Jahrzehnts konnte durch den Einsatz der Nanostrukturierung die thermische Leitfähigkeit verringern werden um damit die Effizienz von TE-Materialien zu steigern. Die Steifigkeit dieser Materialien ist ein anderer Aspekt. Als Alternative für anorganische TE Materialien sind Polymer basierte TE Materialien zum Fokus der Forschung geworden aufgrund einer intrinsisch niedrigen thermischen Leitfähigkeit, hohen Flexibilität und hohen elektrischen Leitfähigkeit. Des Weiteren können diese Polymere in gelöster Form verarbeitet werden, was die Möglichkeit für den Einsatz von Drucktechnologien und damit geringeren Produktionskosten gibt. Anders als der herkömmliche Ansatz den Leistungsfaktor der Polymerfilme durch die Ergänzung von sekundären Dotanten in PEDOT:PSS Lösungen zu verändern, wurde in dieser Arbeit eine effizientere Methode zur Verbesserung der TE Eigenschaften gesucht. In dieser Arbeit wird zum ersten Mal gezeigt, dass die Nachbehandlung von PEDOT:PSS Schichten mit sekundären Dotanten Dimethylsulfoxid (DMSO) als Medium der Nachbehandlung zu einem viel höheren Leistungsfaktor führt als bei der Zugabemethode und außerdem die sonst erforderliche Mischprocedur vermeidet. Es wurden verschiedene Lösungsmittel ausgewählt um die Einflussfaktoren bei der Modifikation des Leistungsfaktors durch die Nachbehandlung von Polymerschichten zu diskutieren. Die Nachbehandlung von PEDOT:PSS Schichten wurde nachfolgend erweitert um das umweltfreundliche Lösungsmittel EMIMBF4 (eine ionische Flüssigkeit) als das Medium einzusetzen. EMIMBF4 ist bekannt für den Austausch von Ionen mit PEDOT:PSS Schichten, so dass EMIM Kationen in der Schicht verbleiben, die Oxidationsstufe der PEDOT-Ketten senken und damit den Seebeck-Koeffizient und die elektrische Leitfähigkeit beeinflussen. Des Weiteren konzentriert sich diese Arbeit auf TE Materialien basierend auf Kompositen aus Polymeren mit Nanoeinlagerungen. Erfolgreiche Syntheseansätze wurden für Tellur-Nanostrukturen entwickelt, bei denen keine giftigen Reduktionsmittel und keine giftigen Tellur-Quellen zur Verwendung kamen. Es erfolgte die Erzeugung von kontrollierten Tellur-Nanostrukturen, einschließlich Nanostäben, Nanodrähten und Nanoröhren, mit nass-chemischer und hydrothermaler Synthese. Die so hergestellten Nanodrähte wurden dann in PEDOT:PSS Lösungen integriert für die Herstellung von Komposite-Schichten. Dabei konnte ein hoher Seebeck-Koeffizienten, bis zu 200 μV/K, festgestellt werden.

<div>The present thesis was completed to satisfy two functions in our laboratory: (1) explore carbon-black (CB) as an additive for electrodeposited intrinsically conductive polymers (ICPs) to improve electrical properties across the electrode-electrolyte interface for use in neuromodulation; and (2) design a histology protocol that will analyze peripheral nerve system (PNS) tissue following implantation of conventional metal and modified conventional metal electrodes with the ICP poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophere):poly(styrenesulfonate)/carbon-black (PEDOT:PSS/CB). It would appear that the functions explored may seem unrelated, however, these two topics play a crucial role in designing a viable electrode for use in acute and chronic neuromodulation and the subsequent analysis required to determine the mechanical properties and overall biocompatibility of design.</div><div><br></div><div><div>A series of experiments with different PEDOT:PSS solutions containing varying amounts of suspended CB (n=19; 0 mg/mL to 2 mg/mL) were explored. Solutions were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) using the intended electrode for deposition, composed of stainless steel (SS), as the working electrode (WE) to determine respective redox potentials. SS was chosen because of its inherently bad electrochemical properties, meaning that improved functionality post electrodeposition would be easy to identify. Immediately following CV, stainless-steel electrodes were electrodeposited using one of two techniques: (1) potentiostat, allowing the cell to rest at the redox potential required for bipolaron formation (0.9 V); or (2) galvanostat, where the electrode was submitted to a constant current of 200 mA and allowed to coat. Rapid electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed prior to and immediately following coating to determine the pre-electrochemical and post-electrochemical impedance characteristics. Results indicate that there was a positive relationship between the amount of CB additive and the relative impedance drop between the uncoated and coated counterparts. Furthermore, the modified electrochemical interfaces are substantially improved for use in frequency ranges of 10 Hz to 50 kHz, which encompass the ranges of our labs recently discovered low frequency alternating current (LFAC) for use in neuromodulation; thus indicating that PEDOT:PSS/CB modification may be used to improve impedance characteristics during our future LFAC experiments. This protocol, the one that contains the ideal concentration of carbon-black, was then recorded and will be used in our lab.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Histology protocols were developed to improve our labs capabilities of post-mortem analysis of PNS tissue. Processing and embedding preparations that explored included paraffin, acrylic, and frozen. Subsequently, staining protocols were developed; however, they varied as a function of the embedding media used; staining protocols developed incorporated progressive and regressive hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining as well as toluidine blue (TB). Tissue was sectioned and observed using light microscopy.</div></div>

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt eine experimentelle Untersuchung der Schichtbildung von nichtnewtonschen Flüssigkeiten im Tiefdruckverfahren auf nicht saugfähigen Substraten. Das fluiddynamisch bedingte „viscous fingering“ beim Farbspaltungsprozess soll mittels Hydrophobieren der Druckform gehemmt werden. Ziel ist es, möglichst homogene sowie wellenfreie Schichten zu erzeugen. Um ein direkt miteinander vergleichbares Druckergebnis zu erhalten, wird der Druckstoff parallel mit einer unbehandelten und hydrophobierten Form bedruckt. Als Druckstoff werden anstelle von Druckfarbe funktionale Materialien (vorzugsweise PEDOT:PSS) verwendet und variiert, wobei die elektrischen und geometrischen Schichteigenschaften, beispielsweise der elektrische Widerstand und die Rauheit, zur Ermittlung der gesetzten Ziele untersucht wurden. Hiermit und mittels Nutzung einer hydrophobierten Druckform kann eine deutliche Minderung der Wellenbildung (viscous fingering) bei vielen Druckstoffarten beobachtet werden. Die Minderung des viscous fingering im Farbspaltungsprozess und eine nahezu vollständige Leerung der hydrophobierten Tiefdruckform haben einen wesentlichen Nutzwert für den künftigen Einsatz nicht nur für die „gedruckte Elektronik“. / In this work is described experimental research about layer forming from non-Newtonian fluids in gravure printing on non-porous substrates. The viscous fingering, caused through fluid dynamics at splitting of printed material should be decreased by hydrophobic-surface modification of gravure printing form. The aim was to print wave-free homogenous layers. To achieve comparable results, modified and pure form were used simultaneously to print the same material. The printed material was mainly PEDOT:PSS and other, which is used in printed electronics. The properties (surface tension, viscosity) of printed materials were varied by additives. Printing conditions were varied too. The characteristic of printed layers were studied: resistivity, roughness, density, etc. The results shows decreasing of waviness, roughness and viscous fingering in final layer through use of hydrophobic gravure printing form, compared to print results with common printing form. This can be applied not only in the field of printed electronics.

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based on Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) are a benchmark system in organic bioelectronics. In particular, the superior mechanical properties and the ionic-electronic transduction yield excellent potential for the field of implantable or wearable sensing technology. However, depletion-mode operation PEDOT:PSS-based OECTs cause high static power dissipation in electronic circuits, limiting their application in electronic systems. Hence, having control over the threshold voltage is of utmost technological importance. Here, PEDOT:PSS-based dual-gate OECTs with solid-state electrolyte where the threshold voltage is seamlessly adjustable during operation are demonstrated. It is shown that the degree of threshold voltage tuning linearly depends on the gate capacitance, which is a straightforward approach for circuit designers to adjust the threshold voltage only by the device dimensions. The PEDOT:PSS-based dual-gate OECTs show excellent device performance and can be pushed to accumulation-mode operation, resulting in a simplified and relaxed design of complementary inverters.