Abstract:
Conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid)/ graphene (PEDOT:PSS/graphene) dispersed solutions have been prepared by in situ polymerization with their potential applications as conductive ink. Graphene was dispersed in a solution of poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The polymerization was directly carried out by addition of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer to the dispersed solution of graphene. The content of graphene and the concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate and ethylene glycol (EG) were optimized and varied to give the highest electrical conductivity. At optimal conditions, The PEDOT:PSS/graphene/SDS composite films, SDS 2.0 wt.% have been found to enhance the electrical conductivity of pristine PEDOT:PSS films from 18.72 S/cm up to approximately 60.12 S/cm, compared with the highest electrical conductivity for the PEDOT:PSS/graphene/SDS/EG composite films, EG 28.57 wt.% of 1030.49 S/cm. The effects of the additives on the morphology, the dispersion and the electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS/graphene composite films have been investigated. The PEDOT:PSS/graphene dispersed solutions were prepared with different concentrations of SDS and EG to induce variations on the morphology and the electrical properties of the PEDOT:PSS/graphene composite films. The morphology studies were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).