Water-Based PEDOT:Nafion Dispersion for Organic Bioelectronics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) is a widely used conductive polymer in organic electronics.
• There is a demand for alternative conductive polymers with improved properties or functionalities.
• Previous work compared electrodeposited PEDOT:Nafion with PEDOT:PSS for neural recordings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an easy and reproducible synthetic protocol for a water dispersion of PEDOT:Nafion.
• To evaluate the properties and performance of PEDOT:Nafion as a potential replacement for PEDOT:PSS in organic electronics.
• To demonstrate the applicability of PEDOT:Nafion in various organic electronic devices.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a water dispersion of PEDOT:Nafion.
• Characterization of conductivity, including treatment with ethylene glycol.
• Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for ion transfer analysis.
• Assessment of adhesion on glass substrates.
• Fabrication and testing of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), memristors, and artificial synapses.

Main Results:

• A reproducible protocol for PEDOT:Nafion water dispersion was established.
• Pristine conductivity of ≈2 S cm⁻¹ was achieved, enhanced to ≈6 S cm⁻¹ with ethylene glycol treatment.
• Faster ion transfer and improved adhesion on glass substrates were observed compared to PEDOT:PSS.
• The material was successfully implemented in OECTs, memristors, and artificial synapses.

Conclusions:

• PEDOT:Nafion offers a promising, easily synthesized alternative to PEDOT:PSS for organic electronics.
• The improved conductivity, ion transfer, and adhesion make it suitable for advanced electronic applications.
• Demonstrated success in multiple device architectures highlights its versatility and potential for future development.