Metal salt modified PEDOT: PSS fibers with enhanced elongation and electroconductivity for wearable e-textiles

Abstract

Continuous wet-spinning process is essential for the further application of intrinsically conductive polymer fibers. Especially, moderate stretchability for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) materials with inherit rigid chains is an insurmountable challenge. In this work, we report a facile strategy for the continuous preparation of conductive PEDOT: PSS fibers with enhanced elongation and electroconductivity for potential applications in wearable e-textiles. Various metal salts were employed for the electrostatic complexation with PSS in a coagulation bath of water and ethanol. Interestingly, resultant PEDOT: PSS fibers with the assistance of Li+ possess a breaking elongation of more than 50%, which is the highest value reported to our best knowledge. Special anisotropic structure was detected inside the composite fibers, providing it outstanding electroconductivity. Moreover, resultant fibers revealed a good sensitivity and high capacitance which provides new inspirations for the development of wearable electronics.