PEDOT with Sulfonated PVA and Choline Chloride Enables Printable and Stretchable Electronics

Abstract Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) has become an important conductive polymer dispersion for constructing flexible electronic devices; however, its electrical and mechanical performance still falls short of practical application requirements. Herein, a highly conductive and stretchable PEDOT film is prepared through a molecular-level material design strategy, using sulfonated poly(vinyl alcohol) (SPVA) as the PEDOT dopant to replace PSS and subsequently blending PEDOT:SPVA with choline chloride (ChCl). This substitution addresses the intrinsic limitations of PSS through chemical structure design rather than physical post-treatment. SPVA is fully utilized, with its sulfonic acid groups effectively doping PEDOT and its hydroxyl groups forming abundant hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). The H-bonds between SPVA and ChCl build a stretchable network in which PEDOT and ChCl synergistically maintain electrical conductivity. The resulting PEDOT:SPVA/ChCl (PSPC) films exhibit a high ultimate tensile strain of 310% and a maximum electrical conductivity of 92.8 S m–1 under the tested conditions. Furthermore, organic-solvent-free inks with tunable viscosities can be readily obtained through a simple aqueous redispersion step, enabling compatibility with diverse electronic manufacturing coating and printing processes. By optimizing the dopant system, this work balances conductivity and stretchability, offering a promising fabrication route for flexible electronics.