Synthesis, electrical properties, and nanocomposites of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanorods

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibers or “whiskers” derived from tunicates were coated with PEDOT:PSS to produce high-aspect-ratio nanorods with high electrical conductivity. Films made from these PEDOT:PSS whiskers have surface resistivities as low as 97 Ω/□. The nanorods were found to disperse well in polar organic solvents such as dimethylformamide, which allowed the fabrication of nanocomposites with inert host polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene. These materials display surface resistivities as low as 760 Ω/□. Due to the high aspect ratio of the PEDOT:PSS-coated whiskers (64) and the formation of well-dispersed whisker networks within the polymer matrices, these materials display a percolation threshold as low as ∼2% v/v. Using a sol–gel process, electrically conducting gels and aerogels with a density of 6.4 mg cm⁻³ and a surface resistivity of ∼200 kΩ/□ were also produced.