The Effects of Solvents on the Morphology and Conductivity of Poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) Nanofibers

摘要

OBJECTIVE In this study, the effect of solvents on the morphology and conductivity of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) nanofibers was investigated. Conductive PEDOT:PSS nanofibers were electrospun by dissolving a fiber forming polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), in an aqueous dispersion of PEDOT:PSS. The conductivity of PEDOT:PSS nanofibers was enhanced 15 fold by addition of DMSO and almost 30-fold by addition of ethylene glycol to the spinning dopes. This improvement is attributed to the change in the conformation of the PEDOT chains from the coiled benzoid to the extended coil quinoid structure as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed that less beady and more uniform fiber morphology could be obtained by incorporation of ethylene glycol in to the spinning dopes.