Water-Based Highly Stretchable PEDOT:PSS/Nonionic WPU Transparent Electrode

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Conducting Polymers

Background:

• Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) offers high conductivity and water dispersibility.
• Improving the stretchability of PEDOT:PSS-based electrodes is crucial for flexible electronics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the mechanical stretchability of PEDOT:PSS transparent electrodes.
• To develop stretchable electrodes for applications like alternating current electroluminescence (ACEL) devices.

Main Methods:

• Blending PEDOT:PSS with nonionic waterborne polyurethane (WPU).
• Coating the composite onto a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film substrate.
• Characterizing electrical properties, sheet resistance, and mechanical stretchability.
• Fabricating a stretchable ACEL device using the developed electrodes.

Main Results:

• The composite film with 2.0 wt% WPU demonstrated excellent stretchability, up to 400% without surface damage.
• Good adhesion was achieved between the WPU-based electrodes and the TPU substrate due to polyester groups.
• The fabricated ACEL device maintained its luminance at 500% strain.

Conclusions:

• Blending PEDOT:PSS with WPU significantly improves electrode stretchability while maintaining electrical performance.
• The WPU/PEDOT:PSS composite is a promising material for stretchable transparent electrodes in flexible electronic devices.
• The developed electrodes enable the creation of highly stretchable ACEL devices.