Characteristics and field emission of conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires

Conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires were synthesized by using an electrochemical polymerization method with a nanoporous template. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of conducting polymer nanowires (CPNWs) with an open end. The formation and the electrical properties of the CPNWs formed were dependent on synthetic conditions, such as the doping level, the polymerization time, and the applied current. The measured electrical conductivity of a single strand of CPNW was similar to3.4x10(-3) S/cm at room temperature. From the ultraviolet and visible absorbance spectra, we observed a pi-pi* transition at similar to2.1 eV for the de-doped systems. A field emission cell of CPNW nanotips was fabricated. The turn-on field of the CPNWs was 3.5similar to4 V/mum at 10 muA/cm(2), and the current density increased up to 100 muA/cm(2) at similar to4.5 V/mum. The field enhancement factor of CPNW nanotips was similar to1200, which is comparable to those of carbon nanotubes. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.