Examination of Treatment Methods for a PEDOT:PSS Transparent Conductive Film Produced Using an Inkjet Method

Abstract

Flexible devices manufactured using printed electronics have attracted the attention of many researchers. A high-performance transparent conductive film exhibiting high flexibility and elasticity is expected to be developed because of its need for the creation of flexible devices. An indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film, which has generally been used, has weaknesses such as fragility to bending stress and depletion of the resource. This study focused on poly (3, 4-ethy-lenedioxythiophene)/poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), a conductive polymer material, and examined improvement in the resistivity and transmittance of the transparent conductive film produced using an inkjet method. The present study improved the electrical and optical characteristics of the thin film by examining the annealing temperature between printing operations and the application method of a polar solvent. As a result, the resistivity and transmittance of a PEDOT:PSS thin film were 1.49 × 10-3 Ω·cm and 89.2%, respectively. This film was obtained by annealing at 90°C for 30 min and applying a polar solvent, using an inkjet printer, between printing operations. The printing was performed three times.