OCVD polymerization of PEDOT: effect of pre‐treatment steps on PEDOT‐coated conductive fibers and a morphological study of PEDOT distribution on textile yarns

Abstract

The functionalization of textile fibers with intrinsically conductive polymers has become a prominent research area throughout the world. A number of coating techniques have already been utilized and optimized to get the uniform layers of conductive polymers on the surface of different substrates. In our previous study, we produced poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐coated conductive fibers by employing oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) technique. This paper describes the effects of pre‐treatment steps, such as surface treatment of textile fibers with organic solvents, drying of oxidant‐enriched fibers at variable temperatures and time, and oxidant type on the electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of PEDOT‐coated conductive fibers. Two well‐known oxidants, ferric(III)chloride and ferric(III)p‐toluenesulfonate (FepTS), were studied, and then their results were compared. In order to verify the PEDOT‐coated layer and, to some extent, its impregnation inside the viscose yarns, a morphological study was carried out by using the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging technique and computed tomography scanning across the obtained conductive fibers. Differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric analysis were utilized to investigate the thermal properties and the contents of PEDOT in PEDOT‐coated fibers. The mechanical properties of conductive fibers were evaluated by tensile strength testing of produced fibers. Effects of all of these pre‐treatment steps on electrical properties were analyzed with Kiethly picoammeter. This study cannot only be exploited to improve the properties of conductive fibers but also to optimize the oCVD process for the production of conductive textile fibers by coating with different conjugated polymers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

High‐strength electrically conductive fibers: Functionalization of polyamide, aramid, and polyester fibers with PEDOT polymer

“…The current paper is the continuation of our previous research work in which functionalization of viscose and polyester yarns with PEDOT polymer through VPP process was studied . It was revealed that both viscose and polyester were successfully coated with PEDOT and exhibited quite good conductivity values.…”

“…16 The current paper is the continuation of our previous research work in which functionalization of viscose and polyester yarns with PEDOT polymer through VPP process was studied. [30][31][32] It was revealed that both viscose and polyester were successfully coated with PEDOT and exhibited quite good conductivity values. However, viscose fibers lost mechanical properties significantly after PEDOT coating whereas polyester retained its virgin properties.…”

Stretch sensing properties of conductive knitted structures of PEDOT-coated viscose and polyester yarns

“…Usually, the CVD process is used to coat the small pieces of substrates, due to which, in our previous experiments (19)(20)25) , we were able to produce only 15 cm long fibers. However, in the present research work, we have made a hundred fold scale increase and prepared 15 m long PEDOT-coated viscose and PES conductive fibers.…”

“…Viscose and polyester fibers were coated with PEDOT polymer by using CVD process, which was optimized in our previous research (25) . In CVD process, the fibers were first treated with an oxidant (FeCl 3 ) solution in 1-butanol followed by subsequent drying.…”

“…However, the CVD process can effectively be used to coat only small pieces of substrates which restrict the use of this process on larger scale. We have extended the CVD process for the production of longer length conductive fibers as compared to our previous studies (25) . In present work, we have prepared knitted structures (ribknit) from the obtained longer length PEDOT-coated viscose and PES fibers on a hand knitting machine and then the stretch sensing properties were evaluated on acquired samples.…”