Synthesis and properties of poly(3-n-dodecylthiophene) modified thermally expandable microspheres

► Functionalization of thermally expandable microspheres with a polythiophene was performed. ► The particles were ∼30 μm and upon heating, the functionalized microspheres expanded up to 50 times. ► The increase in polythiophene content on microsphere decreased the thermal expansion property. ► An increase in the crystallinity of the poly(3-n-dodecylthiophene) was observed with expansion.