The synthesis of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) micro/nano-spheres by the demulsifying treatment

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) microspheres were formed after the demulsifying treatment when acetone was used as the deemulsifier and dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) was used as the surfactant. We compared the properties of PEDOT with and without the demulsifying treatment as well as observed the morphological and structural changes along this treatment. PEDOT chains changed from rigid to coil conformation during the demulsifying treatment due to the strong interaction between polar acetone molecules and PEDOT chains, which induced PEDOT morphological transformation. Meanwhile, the close solubility parameters of acetone and PEDOT allowed the acetone molecules to penetrate into PEDOT agglomerates and fulfilled this morphological change. The investigation about the acetone volumes and the types of organic solvent to the morphology of PEDOT after the demulsifying treatment demonstrated the morphological transformation is an automatic process initiated by the appropriate organic solvent. PEDOT microspheres after the demulsifying treatment exhibited better capacitance behavior than that of PEDOT without this treatment when they were applied as the electrodes of supercapacitors.

► PEDOT microspheres were synthesized through the demulsifying treatment.
► PEDOT was partially reduced and de-doped by using acetone as the deemulsifier.
► The change of PEDOT chains to coil conformation initiated this morphological change.
► The effective organic solvents should feature strong dipole and suitable solubility.
► The specific capacitance of PEDOT was enhanced after the demulsifying treatment.