Preparation of Highly Conductive Gold−Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanocables and\nTheir Conversion to Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanotubes

Abstract

Gold^_poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (Au-PEDOT) nanocables were synthesized at room temperature by\none-step interfacial reaction of EDOT (in organic phase) and HAuCl₄ (in aqueous phase) without the assistance\nof a surfactant, a template, or a stabilizer. The coaxial nanocables have lengths of several micrometers, outer\ndiameters around 50 nm, and central cores around 30 nm. The room-temperature conductivity of the as-prepared nanocable pallet was measured to be about 770 S cm^-1, and it changed from negative to positive\ntemperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) at around 50 K. The single Au-PEDOT nanocable exhibits as a\nsemiconductor in the temperature range of 100−300 K with room-temperature conductivity as high as 2.3 ×\n10³ S cm^-1. Dissolution of the Au component from the nanocables using saturated I₂ solution resulted in the\nformation of hollow PEDOT nanotubes with diameters around 50 nm, and gold nanowires were also produced\nby oxygen plasma decomposition of the PEDOT skins of the nanocables.