Fabrication and Nanoscale Properties of PEDOT:PSS Conducting Polymer Nanospheres

Abstract

Electrically conducting nanospheres of poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with tailored size were prepared by a solvent displacement technique. To fabricate the nanostructures, dried PEDOT:PSS was dissolved in ethylene glycol (EG) and the solution was precipitated in deionized water. The proposed fabrication route allowed to obtain a water-based dispersion of PEDOT:PSS nanospheres with good optical properties. To determine the physical properties of the nanospheres, we followed a nanoscale approach, using Atomic Force Microscopy. Our nanoscale mechanical and electrical investigations showed that the nanospheres preserved good physical properties, compared to the commercial product. Moreover, the local studies indicated that the confinement imposed by the spherical shape and the treatment with EG lead to a different arrangement of the PSS and PEDOT phases, responsible for the good electrical conductivity of the nanostructures.