Novel highly stable conductive polymer composite PEDOT:DBSA for bioelectronic applications
Sarka Tumova, Romana Malečková, Lubomír Kubáč, Jiří Akrman, Vojtěch Enev, Lukáš Kalina, Eva Vojtková, Michaela Pešková, Jan Víteček, Martin Vala, Martin Weiter
Abstract
Abstract In this work, a novel conductive polymer composite consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (PEDOT:DBSA) for bioelectronic applications was prepared and optimized. The novel PEDOT:DBSA composite possesses superior biocompatibility toward cell culture and electrical characteristics comparable to the widely used PEDOT:PSS. The cross-linking processes induced by the cross-linker glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GOPS), which was investigated in detail using Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy and XPS analysis, lead to the excellent long-term stability of PEDOT:DBSA thin films in aqueous solutions, even without treatment at high temperature. The electrical characteristics of PEDOT:DBSA thin films with respect to the level of cross-linking were studied in detail. The conductivity of thin films was significantly improved using sulfuric acid posttreatment. A model transistor device based on PEDOT:DBSA shows typical transistor behavior and suitable electrical properties comparable or superior to those of available conductive polymers in bioelectronics, such as PEDOT:PSS. Based on these properties, the newly developed material is well suited for bioelectronic applications that require long-term contact with living organisms, such as wearable or implantable bioelectronics.