Stability of highly conductive poly-3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene

Properly prepared, PEDT doped with tosylate is also stable under conditions where high current densities, exceeding 6000 A/cm2, are passed through the material over extended time periods. At current densities around 10000 A/cm2 an irreversible break down mechanism is initiated, resulting in a fast decrease in conductivity and colouring of PEDT to a bluish-black hue. A model for the break down mechanism is proposed.