Robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOT

Abstract Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have been extensively studied, yet devices fabricated via electropolymerization remain underexplored in terms of the underlying ionic dynamics and the potential for flexible integration. In this wo...

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Main Authors: Meijing Wang, Jiaxin Fan, Michel Bilodeau-Calame, Chihyeong Kim, Cheng-Ling Chiang, Ademar Fabricio Chaverri Segura, Vito Vurro, Ilaria Bargigia, Janine Mauzeroll, Fabio Cicoira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Flexible Electronics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00457-w
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author Meijing Wang
Jiaxin Fan
Michel Bilodeau-Calame
Chihyeong Kim
Cheng-Ling Chiang
Ademar Fabricio Chaverri Segura
Vito Vurro
Ilaria Bargigia
Janine Mauzeroll
Fabio Cicoira
author_facet Meijing Wang
Jiaxin Fan
Michel Bilodeau-Calame
Chihyeong Kim
Cheng-Ling Chiang
Ademar Fabricio Chaverri Segura
Vito Vurro
Ilaria Bargigia
Janine Mauzeroll
Fabio Cicoira
author_sort Meijing Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have been extensively studied, yet devices fabricated via electropolymerization remain underexplored in terms of the underlying ionic dynamics and the potential for flexible integration. In this work, we demonstrate robust OECTs based on electropolymerized PEDOT, exhibiting negligible drain current degradation after 1000 cycles of operation in aqueous NaCl. Compared to inkjet-printed devices, they offer markedly superior cycling stability, which is further enhanced by the incorporation of the small anionic dopant ClO4 −. We also show flexible, lightweight OECTs by electropolymerizing PEDOT on ultrathin parylene substrates, achieving stable performance under mechanical strain. Furthermore, Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (EQCM-D) analysis reveals distinct ion transport behavior in PEDOT:ClO4, where dopant ejection dominates doping/dedoping process, unlike in PEDOT:PSS. This study underscores the advantages of electropolymerization and small-ion doping, offering new mechanistic insights and advancing the design of high-performance, flexible OECTs for bioelectronic applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2397-4621
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-4ded4e2a2a61433d9dc9a4e29f13f2252025-08-20T04:02:41ZengNature Portfolionpj Flexible Electronics2397-46212025-07-019111110.1038/s41528-025-00457-wRobust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOTMeijing Wang0Jiaxin Fan1Michel Bilodeau-Calame2Chihyeong Kim3Cheng-Ling Chiang4Ademar Fabricio Chaverri Segura5Vito Vurro6Ilaria Bargigia7Janine Mauzeroll8Fabio Cicoira9Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique MontréalDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique MontréalDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique MontréalDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique MontréalDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique MontréalDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique MontréalCenter for Nanoscience and Technology, Italian Institute of TechnologyCenter for Nanoscience and Technology, Italian Institute of TechnologyDepartment of Chemistry, McGill UniversityDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique MontréalAbstract Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have been extensively studied, yet devices fabricated via electropolymerization remain underexplored in terms of the underlying ionic dynamics and the potential for flexible integration. In this work, we demonstrate robust OECTs based on electropolymerized PEDOT, exhibiting negligible drain current degradation after 1000 cycles of operation in aqueous NaCl. Compared to inkjet-printed devices, they offer markedly superior cycling stability, which is further enhanced by the incorporation of the small anionic dopant ClO4 −. We also show flexible, lightweight OECTs by electropolymerizing PEDOT on ultrathin parylene substrates, achieving stable performance under mechanical strain. Furthermore, Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (EQCM-D) analysis reveals distinct ion transport behavior in PEDOT:ClO4, where dopant ejection dominates doping/dedoping process, unlike in PEDOT:PSS. This study underscores the advantages of electropolymerization and small-ion doping, offering new mechanistic insights and advancing the design of high-performance, flexible OECTs for bioelectronic applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00457-w
spellingShingle Meijing Wang
Jiaxin Fan
Michel Bilodeau-Calame
Chihyeong Kim
Cheng-Ling Chiang
Ademar Fabricio Chaverri Segura
Vito Vurro
Ilaria Bargigia
Janine Mauzeroll
Fabio Cicoira
Robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOT
npj Flexible Electronics
title Robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOT
title_full Robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOT
title_fullStr Robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOT
title_full_unstemmed Robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOT
title_short Robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized PEDOT
title_sort robust and flexible organic electrochemical transistors enabled by electropolymerized pedot
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00457-w
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