Electropolymerization and characterization of 3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene on glassy carbon electrode and study of ions transport of the polymer during redox process

In-Plane Growth of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films on a Substrate Surface by Bipolar Electropolymerization

Alternating current (AC) bipolar electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) using a gold (Au) wire as a bipolar electrode (BPE) on a substrate surface resulted in gradual growth of the corresponding poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin film from the terminals of the Au wire on the substrate. Studies to clarify the polymerization behavior were conducted under various electrolytic conditions, including monomer concentration, applied frequency, monomer structure, and substrate material. This method could be used to draw conducting polymer films on a nonconductive substrate, guided by an applied external electric field, and thus has potential for circuit patterning in organic electronic devices.

Electropolymerization on wireless electrodes towards conducting polymer microfibre networks

Conducting polymers can be easily obtained by electrochemical oxidation of aromatic monomers on an electrode surface as a film state. To prepare conducting polymer fibres by electropolymerization, templates such as porous membranes are necessary in the conventional methods. Here we report the electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and its derivatives by alternating current (AC)-bipolar electrolysis. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) derivatives were found to propagate as a fibre form from the ends of Au wires used as bipolar electrodes (BPEs) parallel to an external electric field, without the use of templates. The effects of applied frequency and of the solvent on the morphology, growth rate and degree of branching of these PEDOT fibres were investigated. In addition, a chain-growth model for the formation of conductive material networks was also demonstrated.

Electropolymerization of aromatic monomers on bipolar electrodes is emerging as promising route to the surface modification of conductive objects. Here, the authors discover that some conducting polymers propagate as fibres, opening up the possibility of growing conductive polymer networks via a wireless process.