Controlled Conductive Polymer Coating on Wood Microfibers via Layer-by-layer Nanoassembly

Abstract

AbstractThis paper reports on layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly of poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) conducting polymer on lignocellulose wood microfibers to make conducting paper. Polycation such as poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) was used with polyanionic PEDOT-PSS to construct the multilayers. The physical characterization of the microfiber was done using roughness step tester (RST) and surface profilometer (TENCOR). Thickness of the coated film was estimated using a quartz crystal micro-balance. Current – Voltage characterization was performed using a Keithley measurement system after each self-assembly of PEDOT-PSS to study the electrical properties of the coated film. It was observed that the conductivity of the microfiber was proportional to the number of polyelectrolyte bilayers deposited. The measured conductivities ranged from (1 to 5) × 10-3 Scm-1 to 1 to 10 Scm-1 for different bilayers of PEDOT-PSS on wood microfibers. It was also observed that the conductivity of the nano-coated fibers is dependent upon the salt concentration used in PAH polycations to from the multilayer. In this work we are developing scale integration from nano, to micro and macro (nanocoating-microfibers-macropaper). The results obtained show great promise for the development of smart paper technology and its contribution to the economic development of the nation.