Preparation and morphology of electroconductive PEDOT/PSS/ATO nanocomposite microsphere

Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate)/antimony-doped tin oxide (PEDOT/PSS/ATO) nanocomposite microspheres with the size range from 10 to 50 µm have been prepared by a solution mixing and self-assembling method in the presence of ammonium persulfate. The transparent PEDOT/PSS/ATO nanocomposites were prepared by dispersing the aqueous ATO suspension in PEDOT/PSS ethanol solution. Two types of acicular-shaped ATO (ATO-A) with average diameter of 20 and 50 nm, and two types of spherical-shaped ATO (ATO-S) with average particle sizes of 20 and 50 nm were selected. To measure the electrical resistivity of prepared nanocomposites, the transparent suspensions were coated onto polyethylene terephthalate film a dry thickness of about 50 µm. The nanocomposites containing ATO-S with diameter of 50 nm exhibited lowest electrical resistivity than other nanocomposites. The effects of the ATO loading on the morphology, porosity, and thermal stability of the prepared microspheres were also investigated. From the scanning electron microscopy, the morphology of PEDOT/PSS/ATO-S suspensions develops a cauliflower structure with many recesses in it whereas PEDOT/PSS/ATO-A shows a porous nanofibrous structure composed of PEDOT/PSS aggregates and ATO-A fibrils. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1352–1364, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers