Synthesis of linear PEDOT fibers by AC-bipolar electropolymerization in a micro-space

Alternating current bipolar electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was performed in the presence of benzoquinone in 1 mM tetrabutylammonium perchlorate/acetonitrile. The obtained poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was deposited at both ends of bipolar electrode (BPE) gold wires in a linear fiber form (phi=ca. 30 mu m) owing to limited accessibility of the EDOT monomer to the active site of BPEs in a micro-space. The mechanism of the fiber formation is discussed. The linear growth of the PEDOT microfibers was demonstrated to be useful for application in circuit wiring.