Highly Conductive PEDOT:PSS Aerogels

Abstract

Abstract Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4‐styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) aerogel has attracted much attention in bioelectronics, electromagnetic shielding, and energy‐related systems due to its biocompatibility, intrinsic electronic conductivity, and favorable processability. However, fabrication of highly conductive and low‐density PEDOT:PSS aerogels is still challenging. In this work, highly conductive PEDOT:PSS aerogels are produced via ice‐templated pre‐assembly followed by a specially designed thawing process in H 2 SO 4 solution. Upon optimization of heat and mass transfer during the thawing process, along with the unique ice template effect, the microstructure and thin walls of PEDOT:PSS frozen samples are well preserved. Importantly, the porous structure and thin walls facilitate diffusion of H 2 SO 4 into polymer matrix, inducing phase separation of PEDOT:PSS, thus increasing PEDOT crystallinity and partially removing of PSS component. As a result, the as‐prepared pristine PEDOT:PSS aerogels exhibit a high electrical conductivity of 1200 ± 231 S m −1 along the freezing direction at a low density of 15.3 ± 1.5 mg cm −3 , enhanced mechanical properties, and a competitive electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of 25 115 dB cm 2 g −1 . Moreover, the compressed aerogels show good performances as active materials in symmetrical supercapacitors with thickness‐independent capacitance (maximum 2.1 F cm −2 at 1.0 mA cm −2 ) and in current collector‐free micro‐supercapacitors processed by laser carving.