Recently we reported the site-selective electroplating of metals such as Au and Pt on a conductive object used as a bipolar electrode (BPE).¹ The application of alternating current (AC) voltage between the driving electrodes was found to be effective for the precise modification of the BPEs.

   We report here the electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and its derivatives by AC-bipolar electrolysis with the sacrificial reduction of benzoquinone.² Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) derivatives were found to propagate as a fiber form from the ends of Au wires used as BPEs parallel to an external electric field, without the use of templates. The effects of applied frequency and of the solvent on the morphology, growth rate and degree of branching of these PEDOT fibers were investigated. In addition, a chain-growth model for the formation of conductive material networks was also demonstrated.

References

1. Y. Koizumi, N. Shida, I. Tomita, S. Inagi, Chem. Lett. 2014, 43, 1245.

2. Y. Koizumi, N. Shida, M. Ohira, H. Nishiyama, I. Tomita, S. Inagi, Submitted.