Extending the Utility of Conducting Polymers through Chemisorption of Nucleophiles

The investigation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) exposed to several example amines has shown that they bind to the conducting polymer through a nucleophilic attack on the positively charged carbon atoms. The PEDOT films were polymerized using the vacuum vapor phase polymerization (VPP) technique, and their electrical and optical properties subsequently modified by adsorbing aniline, ammonia or urea. Analysis of the surface chemistry shows that the reversibility of the binding depends on the nature of the amine, although a portion is chemisorbed to the PEDOT. This mechanism allows the polymer surface to be decorated with biomolecules or nanoparticles, as demonstrated by attachment of poly(allylamine) coated silica nanoparticles to the PEDOT. This understanding provides the opportunity to control PEDOT properties, and opens the pathway to extend the utility of these electroactive, optoactive, and bioactive materials.