Study on Binders for Preparing Antistatic Films of PEDOT/PSS

It is essential to employ a binder to prepare transparent films from conductive polymer such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS). In this paper, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and PSS were selected as a binder, and their effects were investigated. The formation of the film was found to be primarily dependent on the surface tension of coating solution including PEDOT/PSS and a binder. When PSS was used as a binder, the film was not formed. In case of using PVP, it was easily peeled off from the substrate. However, when using the PVA or the mixtures of PVA and PSS or PVA and PVP as a binder, films with good transparency and uniform surface resistances were produced. Based on adhesion and long-term stability tests, we concluded that the mixture of PVA and PSS is the best binder for preparing antistatic films of PEDOT/PSS.