Tuning the conductivity of nickel-salen polymers in the channels of electrochemical transistors

The conductivity of polymeric complexes of nickel (II) with N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine ligand and its substituted analogues (poly-[NiSalen], poly-[NiCH$_3$Salen], poly-[NiCH$_3$OSalen]) was investigated in the channels of organic electrochemical transistors. The conductance characteristics of the polymers during scanning the gate voltage were found to depend on the molecular structure of the complexes and the upper limit of the electrochemical doping level of the polymeric material in the channel. The ratio of poly-[NiCH$_3$Salen] conductance in the ON and OFF states exceeded 10$^4$.