Chemical Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Studies of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Poly(styrene-4-sulfonate) Composites

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene-4-sulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) composites have been prepared from aqueous and aqueous acetonitrile solutions of EDOT and NaPSS by oxidation using Fe(III) salts. Powders with PEDOT to PSS ratios ranging from 0.3 to 4.2 and electronic conductivities as high as 10 S cm-1 have been obtained in good yields. The PEDOT/PSS blends are cation exchangers and exhibit facile eletrochemistry in both aqueous and acetonitrile media. Impedance measurements have shown that 30 μm thick PEDOT/PSS layers have proton conductivities as high as 0.03 S cm-1.