Poly(ionic liquid)-stabilized graphene sheets and their hybrid with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

Hybrid materials of reduced graphene oxide (RG-O) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) were prepared by poly(ionic liquid)-mediated hybridization. In this hybrid material, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are found to be preferentially physisorbed onto the RG-O platelets, and allow them to be dispersed as a homogeneous colloidal system. In addition to the function as an effective stabilizer, the PIL also promotes PEDOT growth on RG-O platelets through favorable molecular interaction of PIL with PEDOT chains. The resulting material, a hybrid of RG-O and PEDOT showed an electrical conductivity of 18.8 S/cm at a RG-O loading of 0.3 wt.%, and its thin film on glass substrate showed a surface resistivity as low as 1.8 × 104 Ω/sq at an optical transmittance of 91.18%.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A hybridization of graphene/PEDOT composite with an aid of PIL is presented. ► The PIL plays dual roles by stabilizing of RGO and effective doping for PEDOT. ► The material showed a great potential for application in optoelectronic devices.