Stretchable Conductive Polymers and Composites Based on PEDOT and PEDOT:PSS

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Organic Electronics

Background:

• Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and its complex with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) are leading organic conductors known for conductivity, transparency, water processability, and flexibility.
• Current research focuses on enhancing PEDOT:PSS deformability beyond flexibility towards stretchability for advanced applications.
• Achieving high stretchability is crucial for wearable, implantable, and large-area electronics, enabling intimate biological contact and solution-processable printing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and highlight strategies for improving the stretchability of PEDOT and PEDOT:PSS conductive polymers and composites.
• To provide an overview of methods that overcome the inherent stretchability limitations of PEDOT:PSS (typically ~10%).

Main Methods:

• Literature review of reported strategies for enhancing conductive polymer stretchability.
• Categorization of enhancement techniques including blending, deposition, fiber/gel formation, and scaffold-based polymerization.

Main Results:

• Various methods have been explored to increase the stretchability of PEDOT-based materials.
• Successful strategies include blending with plasticizers or polymers, deposition onto elastomers, and forming fibers or gels.
• Utilizing intrinsically stretchable scaffolds for PEDOT polymerization offers another avenue for enhanced deformability.

Conclusions:

• Significant progress has been made in developing stretchable PEDOT-based conductive polymers.
• These advancements are critical for realizing next-generation electronic devices in energy and healthcare.
• Further research into molecular and nanoscale engineering is vital for achieving higher degrees of stretchability.