Controlling Ion Uptake in Carboxylated Mixed Conductors

Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) have garnered significant attention due to their capacity to transport both ions and electrons, making them ideal for applications in energy storage, neuromorphics, and bioelectronics. However, charge compensation mechanisms during the polymer redox process remain poorly understood, and are often oversimplified as single-ion injection with little attention to counterion effects. To advance understanding and design strategies toward next-generation OMIEC systems, a series of p-channel carboxylated mixed conductors is investigated. Varying side-chain functionality, distinctive swelling character is uncovered during electrochemical doping/dedoping with model chao-/kosmotropic electrolytes. Carboxylic acid functionalized polymers demonstrate strong deswelling and mass reduction during doping, indicating cation expulsion, while ethoxycarbonyl counterparts exhibit prominent mass increase, pointing to an anion-driven doping mechanism. By employing operando grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence (GIXRF), it is revealed that the carboxyl functionalized polymer engages in robust cation interaction, whereas ester functionalization shifts the mechanism towards no cation involvement. It is demonstrated that cations are pivotal in mitigating swelling by counterbalancing anions, enabling efficient anion uptake without compromising performance. These findings underscore the transformative influence of functionality-driven factors and side-chain chemistry in governing ion dynamics and conduction, providing new frameworks for designing OMIECs with enhanced performance and reduced swelling.