Biodegradable PEDOT:PSS/Clay Composites for Multifunctional Green‐Electronic Materials

• Published in: Advanced sustainable systems (Online) Vol. 6; no. 2
• Main Authors: Lee, Seunghyeon, Hong, Yeongbeom, Shim, Bong Sup
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2022
• Subjects: bioinspired composites; conducting polymers; eco‐degradable electronics; edible electronics; green electronics; sustainable electronics
• ISSN: 2366-7486; 2366-7486
• DOI: 10.1002/adsu.202100056

Plastics are now causing challenging environmental issues, especially electronic waste (E‐waste) and microplastics. While no single solution exists to address all these complex problems, superworms’ ingestion behavior toward plastics provides an innovative way to reduce plastic pollutions. Here, it is demonstrated that poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/montmorillonite (MMT) composites are biodegradable with versatile multifunctionalities originating from natural nacre‐inspired layered nanostructures. While their physical performances are modulated interdependently, eco‐biodegradability of the MMT/PEDOT:PSS composites are confirmed by the superworm's ingestion behaviors and their chemical changes after digestion. The electrically conductive composites with PEDOT:PSS also exhibit excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability, flame retardancy, long‐term water stability, flexibility, and electrochemical properties. Combined with these inherent multifaceted properties, the eco‐biodegradable features of the MMT/PEDOT:PSS composites open a new direction to use electronic materials for emerging eco‐friendly applications, including green‐electronics, bioelectronics, and edible‐electronics. While no single solution exists to address plastic pollution, superworms’ ingestion behavior toward plastics provides an innovative way. In this study, poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)/montmorillonite composites are demonstrated to be biodegradable by a superworm with versatile multifunctionalities originating from layered nanostructures. The composites exhibit electrical conductivity, mechanical toughness, thermal stability, flame retardancy, long‐term water stability, flexibility, and electrochemical properties.