Fabrication of Two-Dimensional PEDOT:PSS Nanosheets Through In Situ Formed Complexes

This paper presents a simple and effective method to fabricate water-soluble two-dimensional (2D) conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) nanosheets. Linear PSS is water-soluble and exhibits a quasi 1D structure in the dilute solution. Addition of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers into acidic solutions would form 2D molecular complexes due to charge attraction. In situ polymerization of the ethylenedioxythiophene monomers produces 2D poly EDOT nanosheets. Both transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy characterizations have confirmed the 2D polymeric nanosheets. Further Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) characterization also validated that the 2D nanosheet is composed of EDOT-based units and Raman spectroscopy indicated the strong interactions between ethylenedioxythiophene units in the 2D nanostructures. The electrical conductivity is measured to as high as 551.58 S/m for the thin film of as-produced 2D PEDOT:PSS nanosheets.