Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution Photolithography

Abstract Conducting polymer hydrogels have been extensively explored toward diverse applications like bioelectronics and soft robotics. However, the fabrication resolution of conducting polymer hydrogels by typical techniques, including ink‐jet printing, 3D‐printing, etc., has been generally limited...

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Main Authors: Wen Wang, Jingcheng Liu, Hai Li, Yi Zhao, Rongtai Wan, Qiaobo Wang, Jingkun Xu, Baoyang Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414834
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author Wen Wang
Jingcheng Liu
Hai Li
Yi Zhao
Rongtai Wan
Qiaobo Wang
Jingkun Xu
Baoyang Lu
author_facet Wen Wang
Jingcheng Liu
Hai Li
Yi Zhao
Rongtai Wan
Qiaobo Wang
Jingkun Xu
Baoyang Lu
author_sort Wen Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Conducting polymer hydrogels have been extensively explored toward diverse applications like bioelectronics and soft robotics. However, the fabrication resolution of conducting polymer hydrogels by typical techniques, including ink‐jet printing, 3D‐printing, etc., has been generally limited to >10 µm, significantly restricting rapid innovations and broad applications of conducting polymer hydrogels. To address this issue, a photosensitive biphasic conducting polymer hydrogel (PB‐CH) is rationally designed and synthesized, comprising poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the conductive phase and a light‐sensitive matrix as the mechanical phase. The formation of phase‐separated structures within PB‐CH preserves the integrity of the conductive channels during the photoinitiated cross‐linking. This minimizes the conductivity loss, a common limitation in similar materials. Remarkably, the resultant PB‐CH exhibits a combination of excellent electrical conductivity (≈30 S cm−1), robust mechanical performance (tensile strain up to 50%), and high photopatternability. A detailed investigation of the photolithography process identifies key technological parameters that enable high‐resolution patterning of 5 µm. By simultaneously maintaining processability, conductivity, and mechanical flexibility, this PB‐CH represents an ideal candidate for advanced flexible electronic applications, offering a new technique to fabricating high‐performance conducting polymer hydrogels.
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institution OA Journals
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spelling doaj-art-e4c04714d4b24829b551029b0292204a2025-08-20T02:26:18ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-05-011219n/an/a10.1002/advs.202414834Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution PhotolithographyWen Wang0Jingcheng Liu1Hai Li2Yi Zhao3Rongtai Wan4Qiaobo Wang5Jingkun Xu6Baoyang Lu7Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University Nanchang 330013 P. R. ChinaSchool of Chemical and Material Engineering Jiangnan University Wuxi 214122 P. R. ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University Nanchang 330013 P. R. ChinaRobotics Institute and State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration School of Mechanical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 P. R. ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University Nanchang 330013 P. R. ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University Nanchang 330013 P. R. ChinaSchool of Water Resources & Environmental Engineering East China University of Technology Nanchang 330013 P. R. ChinaJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University Nanchang 330013 P. R. ChinaAbstract Conducting polymer hydrogels have been extensively explored toward diverse applications like bioelectronics and soft robotics. However, the fabrication resolution of conducting polymer hydrogels by typical techniques, including ink‐jet printing, 3D‐printing, etc., has been generally limited to >10 µm, significantly restricting rapid innovations and broad applications of conducting polymer hydrogels. To address this issue, a photosensitive biphasic conducting polymer hydrogel (PB‐CH) is rationally designed and synthesized, comprising poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the conductive phase and a light‐sensitive matrix as the mechanical phase. The formation of phase‐separated structures within PB‐CH preserves the integrity of the conductive channels during the photoinitiated cross‐linking. This minimizes the conductivity loss, a common limitation in similar materials. Remarkably, the resultant PB‐CH exhibits a combination of excellent electrical conductivity (≈30 S cm−1), robust mechanical performance (tensile strain up to 50%), and high photopatternability. A detailed investigation of the photolithography process identifies key technological parameters that enable high‐resolution patterning of 5 µm. By simultaneously maintaining processability, conductivity, and mechanical flexibility, this PB‐CH represents an ideal candidate for advanced flexible electronic applications, offering a new technique to fabricating high‐performance conducting polymer hydrogels.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414834bi‐continuous phaseconducting polymer hydrogelshigh resolutionPEDOT:PSSphotolithography
spellingShingle Wen Wang
Jingcheng Liu
Hai Li
Yi Zhao
Rongtai Wan
Qiaobo Wang
Jingkun Xu
Baoyang Lu
Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution Photolithography
Advanced Science
bi‐continuous phase
conducting polymer hydrogels
high resolution
PEDOT:PSS
photolithography
title Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution Photolithography
title_full Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution Photolithography
title_fullStr Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution Photolithography
title_full_unstemmed Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution Photolithography
title_short Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS Hydrogels for High‐Resolution Photolithography
title_sort photopatternable pedot pss hydrogels for high resolution photolithography
topic bi‐continuous phase
conducting polymer hydrogels
high resolution
PEDOT:PSS
photolithography
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202414834
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