2 - Techniques for designing patterned conducting polymers

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene), polypyrrole, polyacetylene, and polyaniline are examples of the most reliable electrically conducting polymers (CPs). These CPs are also known for their environmental stability and processability. Furthermore, they display an array of excellent characteristics such as chemical and structural diversity. Due to their organic nature, they are lightweight and can assume the form of thin film, powder, gel, and solution. CPs can be synthesized through oxidative polymerization and electrochemical polymerization. These polymerization methods can optimize the quantity of the yield produced and the characteristics of the coating. Patterning the CPs into different geometry and shape is a great strategy to provide excellent adhesion properties. These properties are highly sought after in biomaterial applications. Besides, patterned CPs are favorable to improving electrical transmission. To date, CPs have been subjected to numerous patterning techniques such as spin coating to produce multiple layers in a vast area, photolithography technique to create a high-density versatile pattern, and three-dimensional to achieve a high-resolution image in nanostructure pattern. Progress in nanotechnology opens the doors for the fabrication of advanced patterned CPs nanomaterials with promising applications in electronics, optoelectronics, sensors, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and printed electronic circuits. This chapter focuses on the synthesis and the designing techniques to fabricate CPs with various patterns.