Electrochemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene in aqueous micellar solution containing biocompatible amino acid-based surfactant

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) films were synthesized electrochemically by direct anodic oxidation of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in aqueous solution containing the environmentally–friendly amino acid-based surfactant sodium N-lauroylsarcosinate (SLS), which as a mild biosurfactant has good biocompatibility, low toxicity, good solubilization, and efficient and quick biodegradability. The moderate interactions between a neutral SLS–aqueous micellar solution and EDOT monomer led to the decreased onset oxidation potential of EDOT. PEDOT films were characterized spectroscopically using Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet–visible techniques. PEDOT films with good thermal stability and electrical conductivity of 5 S cm−1 were synthesized in neutral SLS–water micellar solutions.