Fabrication of free-standing PEDOT:PSS nanofiber mats using electrospinning

In this work, a free-standing nanofibers mat of conducting polymer, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is fabricated. PEDOT:PSS solution is blended with widely studied water soluble polymers, poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly ethylene oxide (PEO), and is electrospun. Electrospinning parameters such as applied voltage and flow rate are optimized and fibers of diameter 200–300 nm are obtained, as characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Further, ternary blends are prepared by increasing the PEDOT:PSS content with respect to PEO and PVA, and uniform fibers with diameter of less than 200 nm are obtained. Fiber mats are analyzed using contact angle measurement and change in hydrophilicity with respect to increase in PEDOT:PSS concentration is studied.