Composite fiber of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and derivative for electrochemical applications

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is a conducting polymer that has many advantages including high conductivity, high transparency, and good stability. Despite its advantages, its insolubility and lack of active groups for further functionalization remain the major obstacles for its applications. In this work, polymer/PEDOT composite fibers were fabricated using solid state polymerization of 2,5-dibromo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DBEDOT) and its derivative containing carboxylic acid (DBEDOT-C4-COOH) in combination with electrospinning technique to ensure good dispersion of PEDOT in polymer matrix. The well-dispersed electrospun PEDOT/polymer composite the fiber mats were used to modify the screen-printed carbon electrode as testing models. The PEDOT/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite fiber fabricated through emulsion electrospinning was found to increase the electrochemical response in cyclic voltammetry (CV), while an addition of silver nanoparticle generated in situ and carboxylic group via PEDOT-C4-COOH incorporation enhanced the electrochemical signal in simultaneous detection of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) via square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). An attempt to immobilize an enzyme onto the fiber-modified electrode was unsuccessful. Further adjustments on fiber composition are required.