Structural Ordering Driven Enhancement of Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Performance in PEDOT: PSS via Sustainable Additives for Flexible Electronics

Abstract

Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) is an important conductive polymer for flexible and wearable electronic devices due to its excellent optoelectronic properties. For long-term reliability, both electrical and mechanical performance must be optimized. Here, we investigate the effects of sustainable additives, four solvent-based and four solid-based, all derived from renewable sources, on the electrical conductivity, interfacial shear strength, and bending durability of PEDOT: PSS films coated on various substrates. Compared with common non-renewable additives, the renewable options, including citric acid, D-sorbitol, and glycerol, yielded substantial enhancements, including increased electrical conductivity, up to 71.6% improvements in interfacial shear strength, and stable resistance after 10,000 bending cycles. These findings demonstrate the potential of renewable additives to replace conventional options while maintaining or improving the performance of the conductive polymer. The work also provides guidelines for establishing structureproperty relationships in organic electronic device applications.