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Planar and Three-Dimensional Printing of Conductive Inks
Published on: December 9, 2011
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Omnidirectional Printing of PEDOT:PSS for High-Conductivity Spanning Structures
Wang Xing1,2, Jizhe Wang3, Qilin Qian3
1Advanced Materials Additive Manufacturing Innovation Research Center, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 29, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a new 3D printing method for Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) enabling high conductivity. This technique allows for complex, out-of-plane structures crucial for advanced electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is a key conducting polymer with widespread applications.
- Current fabrication methods limit the resolution and conductivity of PEDOT:PSS structures due to planar assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel fabrication strategy for creating 3D PEDOT:PSS structures with enhanced electrical conductivity and fine resolution.
- To overcome the limitations of layerwise assembly in existing PEDOT:PSS manufacturing.
Main Methods:
- An "omnidirectional printing and secondary doping" strategy was employed.
- A concentrated PEDOT:PSS ink with high solids content (∼15 wt %) and high rheological properties (G'=43531 Pa, τ=4325 Pa) was formulated.
- Secondary doping with sulfuric acid or polar solvents was used to induce PSS loss, phase separation, and crystallinity enhancement.
Main Results:
- The method successfully constructed spanning, filamentary, and out-of-plane 3D PEDOT:PSS structures.
- Achieved remarkable electrical conductivity: 65,378 S/m in dehydrated state and 7190 S/m in swollen state.
- Demonstrated proof-of-concept applications including 15 μm feature size 2D grids for transparent heaters and 3D overhanging arches for interconnections.
Conclusions:
- The omnidirectional printing and secondary doping strategy enables the fabrication of high-conductivity 3D PEDOT:PSS.
- This advancement holds significant potential for flexible electronics, wearable devices, and bioelectronics.
