Foldable textile electronic devices using all-organic conductive fibers

Abstract

Scalable conductive multifilament of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4-styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was fabricated by a coagulation of spinning dope solution in cold methanol. The multifilament was composed of uniform circular fibers with an average diameter of 60°±°5°μm and showed good enough mechanical properties for textile processes while maintaining electronic conductivity. The PEDOT:PSS/PVA blended fibers displayed an actuation response when a voltage was applied in air and the foldable textiles based on the PEDOT:PSS/PVA blended fibers worked as flexible electrodes to detect human heartbeats. The organic conductive fibers can be a platform for lightweight wearable electronics. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.