Characterization of PEDOT:PSS Impregnated Polyurethane Nanoweb with Post-Thermal Treatment for E-Textiles

The aim of this study is to (1) find out the optimum post-thermal treatment temperature by observing the electrical resistance changes of the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) impregnated specimens, (2) examine the surface changes of the PEDOT:PSS impregnated specimens with post-thermal treatment temperature, (3) analyze the effects of the post-thermal treatment on the structural change of the PEDOT:PSS impregnated specimens as the thermal treatment temperature increased. PEDOT:PSS solution (aqueous dispersion, 1.3 wt%) was used in this study to impart the electrical conductivity to the polyurethane (PU) nanoweb. Post-thermal treatments carried out on PU nanoweb in the temperature range of 60-120°C. The results showed that the linear, sheet and specific resistance of the specimens decreased as the post-thermal treatment temperature increased. The highest electrical conductivity was 5.56 S/cm (P120) and the lowest was 0.53 S/cm (UT). FE-SEM images show that PU nanoweb was uniformly and successfully impregnated with PEDOT:PSS. According to the result of raman spectra indicates an effect of the post-thermal treatments on the structural change of the PEDOT chains, which suggests an electrical resistance change of specimens. It was found that the optimum post-thermal treatment conditions are 120°C and 15 minutes with impregnating methods.