A study of the deactivation and service life of Ir oxide anodes supported on Al substrates

The deactivation of Ir oxides supported on Al substrates has been studied in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. Their electrochemical behaviour and service life was also compared to IrO₂ electrodes, similarly prepared, supported on Ti. The Ir oxides were prepared by thermal decomposition of an Ir salt precursor solution. The service life and other oxide properties were found to be influenced by different factors used for preparation of the Ir oxide electrodes, for example, the temperature used for the decomposition process and the solution used to etch the Al substrate. In contrast to the IrO₂ anodes supported on Ti, the service lives of the IrO₂ anodes supported on Al were found to be very short. The deactivation of the latter anodes appears to be related to poor adhesion between the Ir oxide and the Al substrate. However, it was found that the service life of IrO₂ anodes supported on Al is increased when a layer consisting of iridium is electrochemically deposited onto the Al substrate prior to the thermal formation of the IrO₂.     

Performance of sol–gel Titanium Mixed Metal Oxide electrodes for electro-catalytic oxidation of phenol

Mixed metal oxides SnO₂–RuO₂–IrO₂, Ta₂O₅–IrO₂ and RhO₂–IrO₂ were immobilised on a Ti substrate using sol–gel techniques. The Ti mixed metal oxides were characterized in terms of morphology using scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetric responses of phenol at Ti/SnO₂–RuO₂–IrO₂, Ti/Ta₂O₅–IrO₂ and Ti/RhO₂–IrO₂ electrodes were evaluated and showed significantly low potentials for Ti/Ta₂O₅–IrO₂ (+100 mV), Ti/SnO₂–RuO₂–IrO₂ (+200 mV) and Ti/RhO₂–IrO₂ (−100 mV). The degradation of phenol in aqueous solution and its intermediates were investigated by bulk electrolysis and quantitatively assessed by HPLC analysis to elucidate the decomposition pathways and to develop a kinetic model for the electro-catalytic oxidation of phenol over Ti mixed metal oxides. Ring compounds, benzoquinone/hydroquinone, catechol, and short chain organics, carboxylic acids, have been identified as intermediate products for the electro-catalytic oxidation of phenol. Fundamental kinetic data were obtained for the conversion of phenol at these electrodes and was found to proceed in accordance with the pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to the phenol concentration.     

Electrochemical preparation of oligo(azulene) on nanoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and characterization of the composite layer

A nanoporous oligo(azulene)-TiO₂ (OAz-TiO₂) composite layer was formed by electrochemical oxidation of azulene (Az) on a nanoporous ITO/TiO₂ electrode. Polymerization was performed in tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate electrolyte salt dissolved in acetonitrile. The electrochemical and optical properties of the composite layer were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ UV–vis spectroelectrochemistry. The chemical and crystalline structure of the layer was studied by FTIR and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy techniques and the morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The TiO₂ layer was found to have a catalytic activity on the polymerization of Az. The CV experiments in monomer-free electrolyte solution demonstrated the electron donor property of OAz by its p-doping and the electron accepting property of TiO₂ by the large reduction current in the negative potential region. The FTIR and XRD spectroscopic measurements showed the well-defined anatase structure of TiO₂ with inclusion of OAz. A composite layer was formed rather than a bilayer structure. The in situ UV–vis spectroelectrochemical measurements gave evidence of a higher delocalization and easier movement of the π-electrons in the composite layer than in pure poly (azulene).     

Evaluation of Graphene/WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and Graphene/CeO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Structures as Electrodes for Supercapacitor Applications

The combination of graphene with transition metal oxides can result in very promising hybrid materials for use in energy storage applications thanks to its intriguing properties, i.e., highly tunable surface area, outstanding electrical conductivity, good chemical stability, and excellent mechanical behavior. In the present work, we evaluate the performance of graphene/metal oxide (WO₃ and CeO _x ) layered structures as potential electrodes in supercapacitor applications. Graphene layers were grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on copper substrates. Single and layer-by-layer graphene stacks were fabricated combining graphene transfer techniques and metal oxides grown by magnetron sputtering. The electrochemical properties of the samples were analyzed and the results suggest an improvement in the performance of the device with the increase in the number of graphene layers. Furthermore, deposition of transition metal oxides within the stack of graphene layers further improves the areal capacitance of the device up to 4.55 mF/cm², for the case of a three-layer stack. Such high values are interpreted as a result of the copper oxide grown between the copper substrate and the graphene layer. The electrodes present good stability for the first 850 cycles before degradation.     

Using water‐soluble nickel acetate as hole collection layer for stable polymer solar cells

We report polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on poly(3‐hexylthiophene (P3HT) and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) using water‐soluble nickel acetate (Ni(CH₃COO)₂, NiAc) instead of acidic poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) : poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT : PSS) as hole collection layer (HCL) between the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode and photoactive layer. The NiAc layer can effectively decrease R_s and increase R_p and shows effective hole collection property. Under the illumination of AM1.5G, 100 mW/cm², the short‐circuit current density (J_sc) of the NiAc based device (ITO/NiAc/P3HT : PCBM/Ca/Al) reach 11.36 mA/cm², which is increased by 11% in comparison with that (10.19 mA/cm²) of PEDOT : PSS based device (ITO/PEDOT : PSS/P3HT : PCBM/Ca/Al). The power conversion efficiency of the NiAc based devices reach 3.76%, which is comparable to that (3.77%) of the device with PEDOT : PSS HCL under the same experimental conditions. Moreover, NiAc based PSCs show superior long‐term stability than PEDOT : PSS based PSCs. Our work gives a new option for HCL selection in designing more stable PSCs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Degradation characteristics of IrO2-type DSA in methanol aqueous solutions

In this paper, a comparative study has been done on the long-term stability and deactivation characteristics of IrO₂-type DSA^® in acidic solutions with the absence and the presence of methanol compound, respectively. The long-term stability is evaluated by accelerated lifetime tests. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical measurements are carried out on the electrodes before and after deactivation, by which the failure characteristics of Ti-supported oxide electrodes are deduced. The service life is found to increase and then decrease with increasing the calcination temperature of the as-prepared electrodes; on the other hand, the lifetime is obviously shortened by the addition of methanol into the testing solution. The latter phenomenon can be interpreted by more severe dissolution of titanium base and active oxide layers in methanol-involved solution than in blank one. But the former one (temperature-dependent lifetime) cannot be simply explained by the progressive enhancement of stability of active IrO₂ layer with the heating temperature, as concluded from the continuous decrease in change rates of crystalline orientation, unit cell volume and microstrains of oxide layers with the temperature, after the deactivation. SEM observation shows a coating peeling off within the oxide layer and the total delamination of oxide coating at the metal/oxide interface of samples prepared at high temperature after the failure, due to the low coating adhesion. The ease of mechanical loss of oxide layer is considered as one of the main reasons for rapid deactivation of Ti/IrO₂ electrodes prepared at high temperature, although the oxide layer itself in these electrodes is chemically stable enough.     

IrO2–SnO2 mixtures as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

In this work, SnO₂ + IrO₂ mixed oxides are studied as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media by means of voltammetric techniques under controlled mass transfer conditions thanks to the use of rotating (ring) disk electrodes (RDE/RRDE). The oxides, prepared by sol–gel methodology, are supported on the disk electrodes using a thin layer of anionic exchange polymer as gluing agent. The amount of deposited polymer was optimized to avoid any limitation due to the diffusion of reactant/products across the film thickness. The mixed oxides were prepared at the following mole fractions of IrO₂: $ x_{{{\text{IrO}}_{ 2} }} $  = 0.15, 0.31, 0.55, 0.73, and 1. The role of composition was studied in terms of the reaction pathways and the relevant fraction of H₂O₂ production, together with the potentials of the onset of ORR. The fraction of sites able to give proton/hydroxyl and electron transfers is also determined and discussed. The results point to the best performance of low-Ir containing mixtures and to their low sensitivity to the presence of methanol, a key feature in the case of crossover in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells.     

New carbon nanotube–conducting polymer composite electrodes for drug delivery applications

A novel drug delivery system (DDS) based on a carbon nanotube (CNT)–poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) composite was constructed via a layering method. Single‐walled CNTs (SWNTs) were immobilized on a gold electrode using a layer‐by‐layer technique. In particular, cysteamine (Cys) was firstly bonded to the gold surface through the strong S? Au association and SWNTs were subsequently linked onto the Cys layer through condensation reaction of ? NH₂ and carboxyl groups by 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide/N‐hydroxysuccinimide coupling. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy demonstrate that this is a facile route for immobilizing CNTs on gold electrodes. Finally PEDOT was electropolymerized on the SWNT‐functionalized electrode to make a SWNT–PEDOT composite, and the modified electrode was applied as a DDS. Dexamethasone, as a model drug, was incorporated into PEDOT in the electropolymerization. Investigations of the electrochemical properties of SWNT–PEDOT demonstrate that SWNTs greatly improve the conductivity and increase the charge capacity of PEDOT. The composite exhibits a petal‐like surface structure, 20–30 nm thick and 100–200 nm wide. Compared to a DDS based on pure PEDOT synthesized under the same conditions, SWNT–PEDOT has the merits of higher drug release rate and larger release amount. The average mass release for every five voltammetry cycles increases from 1.4126 to 1.8864 mg cm^?2. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Towards optimization of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes adhering with poly(3-hexylthiophene) for highly efficient polymer solar cells

In this paper, we present the optimization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by acid-treatment, solution ultrasonication time and dispersion in photoactive layer for efficient organic solar cells. After non-covalently adhering with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), pre-functionalized SWCNTs were blended into the composites of P3HT and [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as photoactive layer, and a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.02% with a short-circuit current density of 11.46 mA/cm² was obtained from photovoltaic cell indium-tin oxide (ITO)/poly(ethylene-dioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/P3HT:PCBM:SWCNTs/Al with an optimum 0.3 wt% SWCNTs in P3HT:PCBM:SWCNTs nanocomposite, the PCE can be enhanced by more than 10% as compared to the control device ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/Al. The performance improvement by incorporating with functionalized SWCNTs is mainly attributed to the extension of excitons dissociation area and fastening charge carriers transfer across the active layer.     

Investigation of formic acid oxidation on Ti/IrO2 electrodes

A model has been proposed according to which the voltammetric charge involved in the Ti/IrO₂ electrodes is due to two contributions: a faradaic contribution due to surface redox activities at the IrO₂ coating and a non-faradaic contribution due to the charging of electrical double layer (). The later has been proposed as a tool for the estimation of the relative surface area of the Ti/IrO₂ electrodes.Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) measurements using H₂¹⁸O has demonstrated that we are dealing with an active electrode in which the surface redox couple IrO₃/IrO₂ acts as mediator in the oxidation of formic acid (FA).From the voltammetric measurements using different IrO₂ loading and FA concentrations, the kinetic parameters of FA oxidation via the surface redox couple IrO₃/IrO₂ have been determined.Finally a model has been proposed considering that FA oxidation at Ti/IrO₂ anodes is controlled by mass transfer. The good agreement between the experimental results and the model indicates that the surface reaction between FA and the electrogenerated IrO₃ is a fast reaction.     

Epitaxial growth of GaN on (0001) Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> via solution-cast seed layer formation process using Ga(mDTC)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

This paper reports an alternative method for the growth of GaN epitaxial layer on (0001) Al₂O₃ substrate by hot-wall vapor phase epitaxy technique. Tris (N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamato)-gallium (III), Ga(mDTC)₃ was introduced as a precursor material for the seed layer formation in the growth of GaN. Optimal growth conditions with seed layers formed by the Ga(mDTC)₃ concentration of 0.047 mol/L were identified: Growth temperature was found to be 850 °C, and optimal distance between the reactant outlet and substrate was determined to be 12.5 cm. Characterization results showed that this growth method produce high-crystallinity GaN epitaxial layers at a relatively lower growth temperature compared to the existing growth techniques and simplify the growth process.     

Effect of layer thickness on the electrical parameters and conduction mechanisms of conjugated polymer‐based heterojunction diode

In this study, thickness‐dependent current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics obtained for poly{(9,9‐dioctylfluorene)?2,7‐diyl‐(4,7‐bis(thien‐2‐yl) 2‐dodecyl‐benzo[1,2,3] triazole)} (PFTBT) conjugated copolymer based heterojunction diode fabricated on ITO were investigated in terms of electrical characteristics. In order to analyze J –V plots with ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PFTBT:PC₆₁BM/LiF/Al configuration, the thickness‐dependent J–V measurements were applied in the thickness range between 90 and 200 nm. The effect of PFTBT:PC₆₁BM layer thickness on the forward J –V characteristics were investigated by evaluating electrical parameters such as zero bias barrier height (Φ_Bo), ideality factor (n ), shunt resistance (R _sh), series resistance (R_s ), the interface states density (N _ss), and space‐charge limited mobility. The results show that at PFTBT:PC₆₁BM layer thickness of 90 and 200 nm, ideality factor for ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PFTBT:PC₆₁BM/LiF/Al heterojunction diodes ranged from 2.726 to 3.121 and the thermionic emission over the heterojunction diodes is crucial at low current densities and the intrinsic thermally generated charge carriers controlled the forward current this region of the heterojunction diode. At relatively higher voltage, the current mechanism of ITO/PFTBT:PC₆₁BM/PEDOT:PSS/LiF/Al heterojunction diodes were found to obey a space charge limited (SCLC) conduction mechanism. The values of N_ss and R_s in heterojunction diodes increase with increasing PFTBT:PC₆₁BM layer thickness and effect the main electrical parameters of diodes. In addition, the leakage current of heterojunction diodes are taken and interpreted via Poole‐Frenkel emission and Schottky emission. The leakage current was controlled in ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PFTBT:PC₆₁BM/LiF/Al heterojunction diodes by Poole‐Frenkel emission above 140 nm and by Schottky emission under 140 nm. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 44817.     

A novel IrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> electrode with iridium–titanium oxide interlayers from a mixture of TiN nanoparticle and H<Subscript>2</Subscript>IrCl<Subscript>6</Subscript> solution

A novel IrO₂ anode on titanium substrate with iridium–titanium oxide interlayer (Ti/IrO _x –TiO₂/IrO₂) was prepared and investigated for oxygen evolution. IrO _x –TiO₂ interlayer was coated on titanium substrate by impregnation-thermal decomposition method from a mixture of TiN nanoparticles and H₂IrCl₆ solution at 500 °C. The results showed that the service life of Ti/IrO _x –TiO₂/IrO₂ was a factor of six times longer than that of Ti/IrO₂, which was attributed to the IrO _x –TiO₂ interlayer, it could form a metastable solid solution between IrO _x and thin titanium oxide layer on titanium substrate during calcination. The interlayer contributed to the decrease in migration rate of oxygen atom or molecule toward substrate and the increase in bonding force among IrO₂ layer, interlayer, and substrate. Therefore, besides keeping high electrocatalytic activity, the service life of Ti/IrO _x –TiO₂/IrO₂ electrode was greatly improved, and its overall electrocatalytic performance for oxygen evolution was increased as well.     

Preparation of hydrophobic SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>@(TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript>) composite film and its self-cleaning properties

TiO₂/MoS₂ composite was encapsulated by hydrophobic SiO₂ nanoparticles using a sol–gel hydrothermal method with methyltriethoxysilane (MTES), titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) as raw materials. Then, a novel dual functional composite film with hydrophobicity and photocatalytic activity was fabricated on a glass substrates via the combination of polydimethylsiloxane adhesives and hydrophobic SiO₂@(TiO₂/MoS₂) composite particles. The influence of the mole ratios of MTES to TiO₂/MoS₂ (M:T) on the wettability and photocatalytic activity of the composite film was discussed. The surface morphology, chemical compositions, and hydrophobicity of the composite film on the glass substrate were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and water contact angle (water CA) measurements. The results indicated that the composite film exhibited stable superhydrophobicity and excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange (MO) even after five continuous cycles of photocatalytic reaction when M/T was 7:1. The water CA and degradation efficiency for MO remained at 154° and 94%, respectively. Further, the composite film showed a good non-sticking characteristic with the water sliding angle (SA) at about 4°. The SiO₂@(TiO₂/MoS₂) composite consisting of hydrophobic SiO₂ nanoparticles and TiO₂/MoS₂ heterostructure could provide synergistic effects for maintaining long-term self-cleaning performance.     

In situ-prepared composite materials of PEDOT: PSS buffer layer-metal nanoparticles and their application to organic solar cells

We report an enhancement in the efficiency of organic solar cells via the incorporation of gold (Au) or silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) in the hole-transporting buffer layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), which was formed on an indium tin oxide (ITO) surface by the spin-coating of PEDOT:PSS-Au or Ag NPs composite solution. The composite solution was synthesized by a simple in situ preparation method which involved the reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄) or silver nitrate (AgNO₃) with sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) solution in the presence of aqueous PEDOT:PSS media. The NPs were well dispersed in the PEDOT:PSS media and showed a characteristic absorption peak due to the surface plasmon resonance effect. Organic solar cells with the structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS-Au, Ag NPs/poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM)/LiF/Al exhibited an 8% improvement in their power conversion efficiency mainly due to the enlarged surface roughness of the PEDOT:PSS, which lead to an improvement in the charge collection and ultimately improvements in the short-circuit current density and fill factor.     

Electrochemical oxidation of 4-chlorophenol and its by-products using Ti/Ru<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>M<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> (M = Ti or Sn) anodes: preparation route versus degradation efficiency

The electrochemical degradation of 4-chlorophenol and its main by-products was investigated in acid medium using binary oxides electrodes of nominal composition Ti/Ru_0.3Ti_0.7O₂ and Ti/Ru_0.3Sn_0.7O₂ prepared by thermal decomposition through two different routes: inorganic precursors dissolved in isopropanol and polymeric precursors (PPM). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of both the composition and preparation methodology of these electrodes in the electrooxidation of the organic pollutants 4-chlorophenol and its by-products. Electrolyses were carried out using a filter press-type flow cell and monitored by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), total organic carbon (TOC), and chloride analyses. Besides CO₂, the by-products formed in the reactions were 1,4-benzoquinone, 4-chlorocatechol, and hydroquinone, as well as oxalic, maleic, malic, malonic, and succinic acids. The electrocatalytic efficiency with respect to the degradation of by-products was evaluated through the electrooxidation of 1,4-benzoquinone and oxalic acid (OA). The anodes investigated in this work are very promising for the degradation of pollutants because of their excellent efficiency concerning the consumption of 4-chlorophenol and its by-products, although the mineralization of the starting material is not complete. The cleavage of the aromatic ring occurs preferentially in the case of electrodes prepared by decomposition of inorganic precursors due to their larger electrochemically active area and electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, OA oxidation is favored on Ti/Ru_0.3Sn_0.7O₂ prepared through decomposition of PPM.     

Effect of heat treatment of ti substrate on service life of ti-supported IrO2 electrode in mixed aqueous solutions of H2SO4, (NH4)2SO4 and NH4F

The effect of the heat treatment of Ti substrate on the service life of Ti-supported IrO₂ electrode was investigated in mixed aqueous solutions of H₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and NH₄F. The service life was prolonged by the heat treatment of Ti substrate prior to the coating of IrO₂. Such effect was attributed to the increase in thickness of TiO₂ layer existing at the Ti/IrO₂ interface.     

Investigation of electrochemical behavior of Mn–Co doped oxide electrodes for electrochemical capacitors

The electrochemical properties of nanocrystalline Co-doped Mn oxide electrodes were investigated to determine the relationship between physicochemical feature evolution and the corresponding electrochemical behavior of synthesized electrodes. Co-doped Mn oxide electrodes with a rod-like morphology and antifluorite-type structure were synthesized by anodic electrodeposition on Au coated Si substrates from a dilute solution of 0.01 M Mn acetate (Mn(CH₃COO)₂) and 0.001 M Co sulphate (CoSO₄).Electrochemical characterization of synthesized electrodes, with and without a conducting polymer (PEDOT) coating, was performed with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) at different scan rates. In addition, structural characterization of as-deposited and cycled electrodes was conducted using SEM, TEM and XPS.Capacitance values for all deposits increased with increasing scan rate to 100 mV s⁻¹, and then decreased after 100 mV s⁻¹. The Mn–Co oxide/PEDOT electrodes showed improved specific capacity and electrochemical cyclability relative to uncoated Mn–Co oxides. Mn–Co oxide/PEDOT electrodes with rod-like structures had high capacitances (up to 310 F g⁻¹) at a scan rate of 100 mV s⁻¹ and maintained their capacitance after 500 cycles in 0.5 M Na₂SO₄ (91% retention). Capacitance reduction for the deposits was mainly due to the loss of Mn ions by dissolution in the electrolyte solution.     

Oxygen reduction behavior of rutile-type iridium oxide in sulfuric acid solution

Two different forms of rutile-type iridium oxide catalysts were prepared: IrO₂-coated titanium plate electrocatalysts prepared by a dip-coating method (IrO₂/Ti) and iridium oxide nanoparticles (IrO₂) prepared by a wet method, the Adams fusion method. The catalytic behavior of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ at 60 °C. Both catalysts were found to exhibit considerable activity for the ORR; however, the former oxide electrodes showed higher activity than the latter ones. All the IrO₂/Ti catalyst electrodes heat-treated at a temperature between 400 °C and 550 °C showed ca. 0.84 V (vs. RHE) of the onset potential for the ORR, E_ORR, where the reduction current of oxygen had begun to be observed during the cathodic potential sweep of the test electrodes. It has been confirmed clearly that IrO₂, but neither metallic Ir nor the hydrated IrO₂, behaves as an active catalyst for the ORR in an acidic solution. It was also demonstrated that the enlargement of the surface area of the IrO₂/Ti with the help of lanthanum is effective for the enhancement of the catalytic activity in the reaction.     

Preparation and properties of electrically conducting textiles by in situ polymerization of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)

Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was in situ polymerized on nylon 6, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) fabrics using ferric p‐toluenesulfonic acid (FepTS) and ferric chloride (FeCl₃) as oxidants. The effect of the organic solvents used in the polymerization bath was investigated. Prepared PEDOT/nylon 6 composite fabrics have superior electrical conductivity (0.75 S/cm, in ethanol solvent) compared to those of the other PEDOT composite fabrics. In particular, after five cycles of polymerization, the electrical conductivity of the composite fabric reached about 2 S/cm. However, the nylon 6 fabric was damaged by EDOT radical cations and the strong acidity of FepTS during the polymerization process. It was concluded that PTT fabric, which has excellent elastic recovery and acid resistance, is a suitable substrate for in situ polymerization of PEDOT, because the PEDOT/PTT composite fabric was hardly damaged during the polymerization process and its electrical conductivity is comparatively good (0.36 S/cm, in butanol solvent). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1326–1332, 2005