Conductance modulation in tetraaniline monolayers by HCl-doping and by field-enhanced dissociation of H₂O

Oligoanilines are interesting candidates for organic electronics, as their conductivity can be varied by several orders of magnitude upon protonic doping. Here we demonstrate that tetraaniline self-assembled monolayers exhibit an unprecedented conductance on/off ratio of ∼710 (at +1 V) upon doping of the layers from the emeraldine base to the emeraldine salt form. Furthermore, a pronounced asymmetry in the current-voltage characteristics indicates dynamic doping of the tetraaniline layer by protons generated through field-enhanced dissociation of water molecules, a phenomenon known as the second Wien effect. These results point toward oligoanilines as promising substitutes for polyaniline layers in next-generation thin film devices.