Micelle-assisted fabrication of gel-like PEDOT microspheres: in situ observation of the growth process

Abstract

Novel gel-like poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) microspheres were fabricated via micelle-mediated polymerization from room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). The microspheres consist of PEDOT chains as three-dimensional solid networks and a large volume of EDOT as liquid medium span them. Due to synergistic effect of micelles and RTILs, the polymerization rate of PEDOT in the system is slowed down greatly. Gel-like PEDOT microspheres spontaneously grew from several tens of nanometers to centimeter scale and the whole process lasted for several days. Thus, the growth of the microspheres is tracked in situ. The microspheres could release and adsorb EDOT reversibly under certain conditions, indicating a gel-like behavior.