Elastomeric conducting polymer nano-composites derived from ionic liquid polymer stabilized-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

Abstract

This work demonstrates highly stretchable conductive blends of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly(ether-b-ester)(PEEA), in which poly(ionic liquid)s (PIL) are utilized as the compatibilizing template for PEDOT. PIL-modified PEDOT (PEDOT:PIL) inherited the advantageous properties of PILs such as easy control of hydrophobicity by selecting appropriate combination of cations and anions in PIL, and thus PEDOT:PIL can be readily mixed with the PEEA on the molecular scale. The PEDOT:PIL/PEEA blends show a low percolation threshold of conducting PEDOT in PEEA and a good elastomeric mechanical properties in a way that substantial sheet resistance values of the blend remains even when the blends are stretched by 350%. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.