Characteristics and field emission of conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires

Abstract

Conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires were synthesized by using an electrochemical polymerization method with a nanoporous template. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of conducting polymer nanowires (CPNWs) with an open end. The formation and the electrical properties of the CPNWs formed were dependent on synthetic conditions, such as the doping level, the polymerization time, and the applied current. The measured electrical conductivity of a single strand of CPNW was ∼3.4×10−3 S/cm at room temperature. From the ultraviolet and visible absorbance spectra, we observed a π–π* transition at ∼2.1 eV for the de-doped systems. A field emission cell of CPNW nanotips was fabricated. The turn-on field of the CPNWs was 3.5∼4 V/μm at 10 μA/cm2, and the current density increased up to 100 μA/cm2 at ∼4.5 V/μm. The field enhancement factor of CPNW nanotips was ∼1200, which is comparable to those of carbon nanotubes.