ABSTRACT
Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is a bicyclic derivative of polythiophene that emerged on the scientific scene at the end of the 1980s. 1 There are more than 10000 published manuscript reports on the synthesis, fundamentals, and applications of PEDOT, thus making this material the most studied and explored conducting polymer of all kinds today. When charge-compensated with molecular or polymeric anions, it can form a highly conducting solid (i.e. the highest value of 8800 S/cm up to date) 2 that exhibits great stability in its positively charged (p-doped) state. Several synthesis protocols have been developed for the material to enable the formation of thin and thick films on a vast array of substrates and carriers, such as on large area flexible foils and as conformal claddings on fibers. Intrinsically, PEDOT is typically insoluble; however, when dispersion-polymerized with for instance poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) a processable emulsion is achieved. 3 PEDOT:PSS has been further developed into various ink and coating formulations making the production of conducting patterns and areal electrodes possible using standard printing and coating techniques. Many of these techniques, successfully utilized today for PEDOT:PSS, were developed for the graphic art and industrial printing industry during the past centuries. 4
