Jorge Sara M, Santos Luís F, Ferreira Maria João, Marto-Costa Carolina, Serro Ana Paula, Galvão Adelino M, Morgado Jorge, Charas Ana
Instituto de Telecomunicações, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
Centro de Química Estrutural, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
Polymers (Basel). 2024 Aug 14;16(16):2292. doi: 10.3390/polym16162292.
Free-standing films based on conducting polymers, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), offer many benefits over traditional metal electrodes for applications in flexible electronics. However, to ensure structural integrity when contacting aqueous environments and high levels of electrical conductivity, solution-processed polymers require additives that act as crosslinking agents and conductivity enhancers. In this work, a new approach is presented to fabricate water-resistant free-standing films of PEDOT:PSS and simultaneously increase their conductivity, using an oxetane compound as an additive. It is shown that at moderate temperatures, oxetane polymerizes within the PEDOT:PSS acidic medium, forming hydroxymethyl-substituted polyether compounds that form a network upon crosslinking with PSS. The polymer composite films show self-sustainability, structural stability in aqueous environments, and enhanced conductivity. Finally, the potential of the free-standing films as health-monitoring electrodes, specifically for human electrocardiography, is explored.
基于导电聚合物（如聚（3,4 - 亚乙基二氧噻吩）：聚（苯乙烯磺酸盐），简称PEDOT:PSS）的独立式薄膜，在柔性电子应用中比传统金属电极具有诸多优势。然而，为确保在接触水性环境时的结构完整性以及高电导率，溶液加工的聚合物需要用作交联剂和电导率增强剂的添加剂。在这项工作中，提出了一种新方法，使用氧杂环丁烷化合物作为添加剂来制备PEDOT:PSS的防水独立式薄膜，同时提高其电导率。结果表明，在适度温度下，氧杂环丁烷在PEDOT:PSS酸性介质中发生聚合，形成羟甲基取代的聚醚化合物，该化合物与PSS交联时形成网络。聚合物复合薄膜表现出自我支撑性、在水性环境中的结构稳定性以及增强的电导率。最后，探索了该独立式薄膜作为健康监测电极，特别是用于人体心电图监测的潜力。
