Preparation of conductive and stretchable PEDOT-SEBS films

Elektrovodljive polimere karakteriziraju jedinstvena optička i električna svojstva, slična nekim polumetalima i metalima, čineći ih široko primjenjivim organskim materijalima. Mehanička fleksibilnost, prilagodljiva vodljivost, laka obradivost, biokompatibilnost samo su neke od karakteristika koje omogućuje njihovu primjenu u raznim područjima tehnologije, od uređaja za pohranu energije do fleksibilne nosive elektronike. Visoko vodljiv i kemijski stabilan PEDOT jedan je od najvažnijih predstavnika elektrovodljivih polimera koji stvarajući kopolimere i polimerne mješavine proširuje svoju primjenu u nosivoj elektronici. U ovome radu, izrađuju se istezljivi i vodljivi PEDOT-SEBS filmovi sintezom kopolimera koristeći EDOT monomer i ThBr monomer u omjeru 1:1 i termoplastični elastomer SEBS. Uspješnost sinteze kopolimera potvrđena je infracrvenom spektroskopijom s Fourierovom transformacijom (FTIR), a toplinska stabilnost ispitana je termogravimetrijskom analizom (TGA) i diferencijalno pretražnom kalorimetrijom (DSC). Na staklenim supstratima izrađeni su filmovi čija je početna provodnost te provodnost prilikom cikličkog naprezanja ispitana metodom sonde s četiri točke (4PP), a morfologija je određena pretražnim elektronskim mikroskopom (SEM). Ispitana je stabilnost u otopini NaCl-a i mehanička svojstva filmova. Rezultati karakterizacija potvrdili su uspješnu sintezu i izradu polimernog filma PEDOT-Br:S-SEBS kopolimera koji je pokazao zadovoljavajuća mehanička svojstva i stabilnost. Potvrđena električna provodnost omogućava daljnjom optimizacijom uporabu polimernog filma u nosivoj elektronici.Electrically conductive polymers exhibit unique optical and electrical properties similar to those of some semimetals and metals, making them widely applicable organic materials. Mechanical flexibility, adaptable conductivity, ease of processing and biocompatibility are just some of the characteristics that enable their use in various technology fields, from energy storage devices to flexible wearable electronics. Highly conductive and chemically stable PEDOT is one of the most important representatives of electrically conductive polymers, which expands its application in wearable electronics by forming copolymers and polymer blends In this study, stretchable and conductive PEDOT-SEBS films are prepared by synthesising a copolymer of EDOT monomer and ThBr monomer in a 1:1 ratio, together with SEBS thermoplastic elastomer. The success of the copolymer synthesis was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the thermal stability was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The films were prepared on glass substrates, and their initial conductivity and conductivity under cyclic straining were investigated by a four-point probe (4PP) method, while the morphology was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The stability in NaCl solution and mechanical properties of the films were also assessed. The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis and preparation of the PEDOT-Br:S-SEBS copolymer film, which exhibited satisfactory mechanical properties and stability. The confirmed electrical conductivity enables further optimization for the use of the polymer film in wearable electronics