Improvement of electrical conductivity of PEDOT: PSS syntactic foams with segregated electrically conductive microstructure: Experimental and finite element analysis

Abstract

In this work, PEDOT: PSS syntactic foams with different glass bubbles (GB) contents were prepared. The effect of the generated microstructure on the electrical conductivity and its thermal stability were experimentally studied. Additionally, a finite element analysis was carried out to determine the effect of microstructures of the syntactic foams on the prediction of their electrical and thermal conductivity. The result of DMSO doping on electrical conductivity was also analyzed. The syntactic foams showed two types of microstructures depending on the content of GB. The most efficient material to conduct the electric field was obtained with 75 wt % of GB because an electrically conductive segregated network was formed. The finite element simulation showed that the microstructure is not the only key factor in improving electrical conductivity; being the intrinsic electrical conductivity of the matrix also very important. Doping with DMSO increased, even more, the electrical conductivity of the foams with high percentages of GB. Finally, the thermal stability was positively influenced by the microstructure with segregated phases and by the low thermal conductivity of the materials. Essentially, this work reveals a novel and more sustainable process for generating materials like aerogels which potentially could be used as thermoelectric material.