DBD plasma-treated polyester fabric coated with doped PEDOT:PSS for thermoregulation

• Thermoregulatory polyester fabrics based on the Joule heating effect. • The inherent flexibility of fabric is retained after functionalization. • DBD plasma treatment improves adhesion and homogeneity of the PEDOT:PSS. • Secondary dopants (DMSO and GLY) allowed higher conductivity. • The plasma-treated samples reached 44.3 °C, increasing 21.4 °C after 1 h. The manufacturing process of thermoregulation products with polyester (PES) fabric and conductive polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with proper wearability, comfort, and high performance is still a challenge due to low adhesion, environment instability and non-uniform coatings. This study presents a simple and effective method for producing thermoregulatory PES fabrics using the Joule heating effect. Textiles treated with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma were functionalized with PEDOT:PSS incorporating secondary dopants, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol (GLY). PEDOT:PSS was used because it does not compromise the mechanical properties of base materials. DBD plasma treatment was applied to PES to improve the substrate’s functional groups and consequently increase adhesion and homogeneity of the PEDOT:PSS on the substrate. The polymer were applied to the textiles by dip-pad-dry-cure method ensuring uniform distribution and homogeneous heating of the materials. The samples’ conductivity, impedance, potential and Joule effect, and their morphological, chemical and thermal properties were studied. Control samples without plasma treatment and secondary dopants were also prepared. The results showed that the DBD-treated samples, coated with 5 layers of PEDOT:PSS, doped with DMSO 7 % (w/v), displayed the best conductivity and Joule effect performance reaching 44.3 °C after 1 h.