Stretchable and Conductive Polymer Films Prepared\nby Solution Blending

Abstract

Stretchable and conductive materials\ncan have important application\nin many areas, such as wearable electronics and healthcare devices.\nConducting polymers have very limited elasticity because of their\nrigid conjugated backbone. In this work, highly stretchable and conductive\npolymer films are prepared by coating or casting aqueous solution\nof poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)\nand a soft polymer, including poly­(ethylene glycol), poly­(ethylene\noxide), or poly­(vinyl alcohol). The soft polymers can greatly improve\nthe stretchability and the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS. The elongation\nat break can be increased from 2% up to 55%. The soft polymers can\nalso enhance the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS from 0.2 up to 75 S cm^–1. The conductivity is further enhanced by adding dimethyl\nsulfoxide (DMSO) or ethylene glycol (EG) into the aqueous solutions\nof the polymer blends. Polymer blends with an elongation at break\nof close to 50% and a conductivity of 172 S cm^–1 are attained.