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Electrochemical deposition and characterization of carboxylic acid functionalized PEDOT copolymers

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Abstract

Conjugated polymer films are of considerable current interest for functionalizing the surfaces of a wide variety of devices including implantable biomedical electronics. Toward these ends, copolymer films of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) with a carboxylic acid functional EDOT (EDOTacid) were electrochemically deposited and characterized as a systematic function of the EDOTacid content (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). Chemical surface characterization of the films confirmed the presence of both EDOT and EDOTacid units. Toluidene blue assays showed that the surface concentration of the carboxylic acid groups increased to a maximum of 2.75 nmoles/mm2, and the contact angle measurements confirmed the increased hydrophilicity of the films with increasing EDOTacid content (decreasing from 52.6 to 32.5 degrees). Cyclic voltammetry showed that the films had comparable charge storage capacities regardless of their composition. The morphology of the films varied depending on the monomer feed ratio. The addition of EDOTacid induced a transition from a nodular, porous surface to a more dense, pleated surface structure. These methods provide a facile means for synthesizing electrically active carboxylic acid functional poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) copolymer films with tunable hydrophilicity and surface morphologies.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (DMR-1103027) and the University of Delaware. We would like to thank Inci Ruzybayev and Dr. Ismat Shah for help with XPS measurements on the copolymer film samples. DCM is a co-founder and the Chief Scientific Officer for Biotectix LLC, a University of Michigan spin-off company that is actively investigating the use of conjugated polymers for interfacing biomedical devices with living tissue.

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  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, USA

    Nandita Bhagwat, Kristi L. Kiick & David C. Martin

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  1. Nandita Bhagwat
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  2. Kristi L. Kiick
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  3. David C. Martin
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Correspondence to Kristi L. Kiick or David C. Martin.

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Bhagwat, N., Kiick, K.L. & Martin, D.C. Electrochemical deposition and characterization of carboxylic acid functionalized PEDOT copolymers. Journal of Materials Research 29, 2835–2844 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2014.314

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