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

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.

Automated summary

A continuous process was developed to prepare conductive PEDOT: PSS fibers with enhanced elongation and electroconductivity for potential applications in wearable e-textiles. Resultant fibers with the assistance of Li+ possess a breaking elongation of more than 50%, the highest value reported to date, showing exceptional electroconductivity. Special anisotropic structure inside the composite fibers provides new inspirations for the development of wearable electronics with good sensitivity and high capacitance.