Among the organic electronic conducting organic polymers PEDOT (poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene)) is largely used in the making of electrodes for miniaturized, light and portable devices. The chemical, mechanical, electrochemical and optical properties of the conducting polymers are essential to plan the future research with them, as in, e.g., electrochromic devices (transmissive and reflective), chronoamperometric sensors, voltammetric sensors and controlled drug release systems. Degradability is also an important factor considering the environmental impact of the materials. Nanoparticles (NPs) of Au or Pt (1−100 nm size), when surrounded by a stabilizer, are stable, have reactive and functionalizable surfaces and catalyze many electron transfer reactions. Combinations of noble metal nanoparticles with PEDOTs (PEDOT and its derivatives) have been studied in the last years to obtain singular characteristics of the materials. The goals of this work are to study the synthesis of new inorganic/organic hybrids and their electrochemical behavior. Through 1-step oxidoreduction reaction in aqueous media, hybrids of core-shell Au@PEDOT nanoparticles were synthesized. Through this same strategy, nanoparticles of Pt dispersed in a matrix of PEDOT were synthesized. The Au@PEDOT nanoparticles had their electrochromic behavior studied. With the biodegradable macromonomer EDOTpoly(lactic acid) (EDOT-PLA) were prepared hybrids of NPsAu/(oligomers of EDOTPLA) and also of NPsAu with the new polymer PEDOT-PLA. The produced materials were analyzed. The nanoparticles are very small, with a maximum of distribution in less than 10 nm. Its observed that PEDOT-PLA is conducting, electronically similar to PEDOT and insoluble in water. It is also more stable as a film than PEDOT. NPsAu/PEDOT-PLA demonstrates to have electrocatalytic towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Electrodes of high performance towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide were thus obtained (sensitivity 8.4x10-3 A cm-2 mol-1 L; linear range (5.1x10-4 − 4.5x10-2) mol L-1; limit of detection 1.7x10-4 mol L-1). Syntheses of acrylic hydrogels and the insertion of nanoparticles/PEDOT in them were also performed, modifying their properties. / Entre os polímeros orgânicos condutores eletrônicos o PEDOT (poli(3,4- etilenodioxitiofeno)) é largamente utilizado na fabricação de eletrodos em dispositivos miniaturizados, leves e portáteis. As propriedades químicas, mecânicas, eletroquímicas e ópticas dos polímeros condutores são essenciais para planejar a pesquisa futura com eles, e.g., em dispositivos eletrocrômicos transmissivos e reflexivos, sensores cronoamperométricos, sensores voltamétricos e sistemas de liberação controlada de drogas. Degradabilidade também é um fator importante ao considerar o impacto ambiental dos materiais. Nanopartículas (NPs) de Au ou Pt (1−100 nm de tamanho), quando revestidas por um estabilizante, são estáveis, possuem superfícies reativas e funcionalizáveis e catalisam muitas reações de transferência de elétrons. As combinações de nanopartículas de metais nobres com PEDOTs (PEDOT e seus derivados) vêm sendo bastante estudadas nos últimos anos de forma a obter características singulares dos materiais. Os objetivos deste trabalho são estudar a síntese de novos híbridos inorgânicos/orgânicos e o seu comportamento eletroquímico. Foram sintetizados, por reação de oxidorredução em uma etapa em meio aquoso, híbridos de nanopartículas core-shell de Au@PEDOT. Por esta mesma estratégia, nanopartículas de Pt dispersas em matrizes de PEDOT foram sintetizadas. As nanopartículas de Au@PEDOT tiveram o seu comportamento eletrocrômico estudado. Com o macromonômero biodegradável EDOT-poli(ácido lático) (EDOT-PLA) foram preparados híbridos de NPsAu/(oligômeros de EDOT-PLA) e também de NPsAu com o novo polímero PEDOT-PLA. Os materiais produzidos foram analisados. As nanopartículas são muito pequenas, com um máximo de distribuição em menos de 10 nm. Observa-se que o PEDOT-PLA é um condutor, de estrutura eletrônica semelhante ao PEDOT e insolúvel em água. Ele também é mais estável em filme do que o PEDOT. NPsAu/PEDOT-PLA demonstra ter atividade eletrocatalítica de redução do peróxido de hidrogênio. Eletrodos de alto desempenho para a redução de peróxido de hidrogênio foram, portanto, obtidos (sensibilidade 8,4x10-3 A cm-2 mol-1 L; faixa linear (5,1x10-4 4,5x10-2) mol L-1; limite de detecção 1,7x10-4 mol L-1). Foram feitas também sínteses de hidrogeis acrílicos e a inserção de nanopartículas/PEDOT neles, modificando as suas propriedades.

Following the discovery of electronic conductivity in doped polyacetylene, various studies on conducting polymers have been investigated. These polymers are essentially characterized by the presence of conjugated bonding on polymer backbone, which facilitates formation of polarons and bipolarons as charge carriers. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is an interesting polymer because of high electronic conductivity, ease of synthesis and high chemical stability. Electrochemically prepared PEDOT is more interesting than the polymer prepared by chemical routes because it adheres to the electrodes surface and the PEDOT coated electrodes can directly be used for various applications such as batteries, supercapacitor, sensors, etc. A majority of the studies described in the thesis are based on PEDOT. Studies on polyanthanilic acid and reduction of hydrogen peroxide on stainless steel substrate are also included. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to conducting polymers with a focus on synthesis, electrochemical characterization and applications of PEDOT. In Chapter 2, microscopic and impedance spectroscopic characterization of PEDOT coated on stainless steel (SS) and indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates are described. Electrosynthesis of PEDOT is carried out on SS electrodes by three different techniques, namely, potentiostatic, galvanostatic and potentiodynamic techniques. The SEM images of PEDOT prepared by the galvanostatatic and potentiostatic routes indicate globular morphology. However, it is seen that porosity increases by increasing the current or the potential. In the cases of both galvanostatic and potentiostatic routes, the oxidation of EDOT to form PEDOT takes place continuously during preparation. However, in the case of potentiodynamic experiment between 0 and 0.9 V vs. SCE (saturated calomel electrode), the formation of PEDOT occurs only when the potential is greater than 0.70 V. During multicycle preparation to grow thicker films of PEDOT, formation of PEDOT takes place layer by layer, a layer of PEDOT being formed in each potential cycle. PEDOT prepared in the potential ranges 0-0.90 V and 0-1.0 V show globular morphology similar to the morphology of the galvanostatically and potentiostatically prepared polymer. If prepared in the potential ranges 0-1.1 V and 0-1.2 V, the PEDOT films have rod-like and fibrous morphology. This is attributed to larger amount of PEDOT formed in each cycle in comparison with lower potential ranges and also to partial oxidation of PEDOT at potentials ≥ 1.10 V. PEDOT is also electrochemically prepared on ITO coated glass substrate. Preparation is carried out under potentiostatic conditions in the potential range between 0.9 and 1.2 V. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies indicate a globular topography for PEDOT films prepared on ITO coated glass plates. The height and width of globules increase with an increase in deposition potential. The PEDOT coated SS electrodes are subjected to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies in 0.1 M H2SO4. The Nyquist plot of impedance consists of a depressed semicircle, which arises due to a parallel combination of the polymer resistance and double-layer capacitance (Cdl). Impedance data are analyzed. Studies on electrooxidation of methanol, formic acid, formaldehyde and ethanol on nanocluster of Pt and Pt-Ru deposited on PEDOT/C electrode are reported in Chapter 3. Studies on electrooxidation of small molecules are important in view of their promising applications in fuel cells. Films of PEDOT are electrochemically deposited on carbon paper. Nanoclusters of Pt and bimetallic Pt-Ru catalysts are potentiostatically deposited on PEDOT/C electrodes. Catalysts are also prepared on bare carbon paper for studying the effect of PEDOT. The presence of PEDOT film on carbon paper allows the formation of uniform, well dispersed nanoclusters of Pt as well as Pt-Ru catalysts. TEM studies suggest that the nanoclusters of about 50 nm consist of nanoparticles of about 5 nm in diameter. Electrooxidation of methanol, formic acid, formaldehyde and ethanol are studied on Pt-PEDOT/C and PtRu-PEDOT/C electrodes by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The data for oxidation of these small organic molecules reveal that PEDOT imparts a greater catalytic activity for the Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts. Results of these studies are described in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, PEDOT is coated on SS substrate to investigate phenol oxidation. Studies on electrochemical oxidation of phenol are interesting because it is important to remove phenol from contaminated water or industrial effluents. Deactivation of the anode due to the formation and adsorption of polyoxyphenylene on its surface is a common problem for a variety of electrode materials, during phenol oxidation. Investigations on suitable anode materials, which can undergo no or moderate poisoning by polyoxyphenylene, are interesting. In the present study, it is shown that the electrooxidation rate of phenol is greater on PEDOT/SS electrodes than on Pt. Deactivation of PEDOT/SS electrode is slower in relation to Pt. The oxidation of phenol on PEDOT/SS electrode occurs to form both polyoxyphenylene and benzoquinone in parallel. Cyclic voltammetry of phenol oxidation is studied by varying the concentration of phenol, sweep rate and thickness of PEDOT. Ac impedance studies indicate a gradual increase in polymer resistance due to adsorption of polyoxyphenylene during multi sweep cyclic voltammetry. This investigation reveals that PEDOT coated on a common metal or alloy such as SS is useful for studying electrooxidation of phenol, which is generally studied on a noble metal based electrodes. Electrochemically prepared PEDOT is used for supercapacitor studies and the results are presented in Chapter 5. Generally, electronically conducting polymers possess high capacitive properties due to pseudo-faradaic reactions. PEDOT/SS electrodes prepared in 0.1 M H2SO4 are found to yield higher specific capacitance (SC) than the electrodes prepared from neutral aqueous electrolyte. The effects of concentration of H2SO4, concentration of SDS, potential of deposition and nature of supporting electrolytes used for capacitor studies on SC of the PEDOT/SS electrodes are studied. Specific capacitance values as high as 250 F g-1 in 1 M oxalic acid are obtained during the initial stages of cycling. However, there is a decrease in SC on repeated charge-discharge cycling. Spectroscopic data reflect structural changes in PEDOT on extended cycling. Self-doped PANI is expected to possess superior electrochemical characteristics in relation to PANI. The self-doping is due to the presence of an acidic group on the polymer chain. However, self-doped PANI is soluble in acidic solutions against insolubility of PANI. In the present study, poly(anthranilic acid), PANA, is encapsulated in porous Nafion membrane by chemical and a novel electrochemical methods. PANA present in solid form in Nafion membrane does not undergo dissolution in acidic solutions. The methods of preparation and various electrochemical, optical and spectroscopic characterizations studies of PANA-Nafion are described in Chapter 6. Electroreduction of H2O2 is studied on sand-blasted stainless steel (SSS) electrode in an aqueous solution of NaClO4 and the details are reported in Chapter 7. The cyclic voltammetric reduction of H2O2 at low concentrations is characterized by a cathodic peak at -0.40 V versus standard calomel electrode (SCE). Cyclic voltammetry is studied by varying the concentration of H2O2 in the range from 0.2 mM to 20 mM and the sweep rate in the range from 2 to 100 mV s-1. Cyclic voltammograms at concentrations of H2O2 higher than 2 mM or at high sweep rates consist of an additional current peak, which may be due to the reduction of adsorbed species formed during the reduction of H2O2. Amperometric determination of H2O2 at -0.50 V vs. SCE provides the detection limit of 5 μM H2O2. A plot of current density versus concentration has two linear segments suggesting a change in the mechanism of H2O2 reduction at concentrations of H2O2 ≥ 2 mM. From the rotating disc electrode study, diffusion co-efficient of H2O2 and rate constant for reduction of H2O2 are evaluated. Thus, stainless steel, which is inexpensive and a common alloy, is useful for studying electrochemical reduction of H2O2 and also for analytical application. This work is initiated to study the reduction of H2O2 on PEDOT/SS electrodes. As a result of preliminary experiments, it is found that PEDOT does not exhibit any influence on the kinetics of H2O2 reduction. Therefore studies conducted using bare stainless steel are included in this chapter. Results of the above studies are described in the thesis.

Grâce à leurs excellentes propriétés mécaniques, électriques et chimiques, les dispositifs organiques électroniques à base de polymères conducteurs peuvent résoudre l’incompatibilité entre les modules électroniques rigides en silicone et les exigences des tissus mous qui constituent l’environnement biologique. Les avancées en matière de semiconducteurs organiques et en microélectronique ont donné naissance à la bioélectronique. Cette discipline emploie des capteurs à des fins diagnostiques, telles que la détection des métabolites ou la mesure d’un potentiel d’action neuronal, et des actionneurs à des fins thérapeutiques, comme l’application locale d’un traitement à l’intérieur même du corps, ou la stimulation cérébrale profonde afin de guérir un trouble neurologique. En bioélectronique, l’utilisation de matériaux organiques, tels que le polymère conducteur poly(3,4-éthylènedioxythiophène) polystyrène sulfonate de sodium (PEDOT:PSS) a permis de développer des composants électroniques biomédicaux de qualité exceptionnelle, comme par exemple le transistor organique électrochimique (OECT), qui ont été testés in vitro et in vivo. Ce manuscrit explique en détail la fabrication, la fonctionnalisation et la caractérisation du OECT à base de PEDOT:PSS. Afin de pouvoir intégrer ce capteur à des systèmes de mesure biomédicaux déjà établis, l’OECT est intégré à des circuits simples, tels qu’un amplificateur de tension ou un pont de Wheatstone. Ces circuits sont mis à l’épreuve de la pratique clinique, dans le cas de mesures électrocardiographiques, ou de détection de métabolites dans des cellules cancéreuses. Cela permet d’apprécier à la fois leur applicabilité, et leurs limites. / Due to their outstanding mechanical, electrical and chemical properties, organic electronic devices based on conducting polymers can bridge the gap between the rigid silicon based read-out electronics and the soft biological environment and will have a huge impact on the medical healthcare sector. The recent advances in the field of organic semiconductors and microelectronics gave rise to a new discipline termed bioelectronics. This discipline deals with sensors for diagnostic purposes, ranging from metabolite detection and DNA recognition all the way to single neuronal firing events, and actuators for therapeutic purposes, through for example active local drug delivery inside the body or deep brain stimulation to cure neurological disorder. The use of organic materials such as the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) in the field of bioelectronics has brought about a variety of outstanding electronic biomedical devices, such as the organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), that have been implemented for both in vitro and in vivo applications. The present manuscript gives a detailed explanation of the fabrication, functionalization and characterization of OECTs based on PEDOT:PSS. To be able to intercept this sensor element with traditional biomedical recording systems, the OECT is implemented into simple circuit layouts such as a voltage amplifier or a Wheatstone bridge. These sensor circuits are then applied to real-life biomedical challenges, such as electrocardiographic recordings or metabolite detection in tumor cell cultures, to demonstrate their applicability as well as their limitations.

L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était de développer des encres organiques de polymères semi-conducteurs. Il s’est ainsi agi de synthétiser des latex de poly (3,4-éthylènedioxythiophène) (PEDOT) dispersibles en milieux organiques (cyclohexane ou toluène) par polymérisation oxydative de l’EDOT en présence de stabilisant stériques et/ou électrostatiques. Le stabilisant est un polymère fonctionnalisé par une unité ou plusieurs unités fonctionnelles qui peuvent réagir avec la chaîne de PEDOT en croissance assurant ainsi des liaisons covalentes ou électrostatiques entre celui-ci et le stabilisant. La taille des particules de PEDOT est contrôlée par la masse molaire, la concentration et par la fonctionnalité du stabilisant. Le PEDOT obtenu est caractérisé par diffusion de la lumière (DLS), par microscopie électronique à balayage (MEB) microscopie électronique à transmission (TEM) et par des mesures de conductivité. / Spherical poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nano-particles with narrow size distribution were prepared in organic dispersant media in the presence of iron(III) chloride FeCl3 or iron(III) dodecylbenzenesulfonate {Fe(DBS)3} as oxidant and a functionalized polyisoprene (ω-R-PI) as a stabilizer. Two kinds of functionalized polyisoprene were used as stabilizers. Pyrrole, fluorene, Thiophene and methylthiophene end caped polyisoprenes were used as reactive stabilizers. Lithium sulfonate end caped polyisoprene was used as steric stabilizer. The effect of the nature of the solvent, the molar mass, the concentration, and the nature of the functional end unit of the stabilizer on the size and morphology of PEDOT particles were investigated. Polyisoprenes containing sulfonate groups were also used as steric/electrostatic stabilizers. By this way, the sulfonate groups act as counter ions for oxidized PEDOT leading to electrostatic attraction between it and the stabilizer, ensuring stabilization of the latex. Four kinds of polyisoprene-based steric electrostatic stabilizers having one or many sulfonate groups were prepared: sulfonate end-capped polyisoprene (PI-SO3Li), partially sulfonated polyisoprene (PIS), polyisoprene grafted to polystyrene sulfonate (PI-g-PSS) and polyisoprene grafted to polyisoprene sulfonate (PI-g-PIS). The effects of the molar mass of the stabilizer and the sulfonate group content on the PEDOT particle morphology were studied.PEDOT samples were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis and conductivity measurements.

Poly(3,4-ethylendioxythiophen) (PEDOT) ist ein Kunststoff der zur Gruppe der intrinsisch leitfähigen Polymere (ILP) zählt. Aufgrund seiner chemischen und thermischen Stabilität findet er Verwendung in antistatischen Verkleidungen und als Elektrodenmaterial. PEDOT (und andere ILP) zeigen aufgrund ihrer Schaltbarkeit zwischen (reduzierten, ) neutralen und oxidierten Zuständen unterschiedliche Eigenschaften wie Leitfähigkeit, Farbe oder Viskoelastizität. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden die elektrochemischen und viskoelastischen Eigenschaften von PEDOT-Filmen untersucht. Dabei wurde die Quarzmikrowaage (QCM) in Verbindung mit potentiostatischen (Potentialsprung, PS) und potentiodynamischen (Cyclovoltammetrie, CV) elektrochemischen Methoden verwendet, so dass in situ elektrochemische und mechanische Eigenschaften der Filme zugänglich waren. Zur Bestimmung der viskoelastischen Eigenschaften wurde ein Auswertealgorithmus entwickelt, welcher auf ein mathematisches Modell zur Bestimmung des Schermoduls nach Efimov zurückgreift. Während der Herstellung wurden Parameter wie Lösungsmittel, Leitsalz, Vorpolarisations- und Abscheidungspotential variiert und die erhaltenen Filme bezüglich Schermodul und Morphologie charakterisiert. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Elektrolytzusammensetzung einen entscheidenden Einfluss auf die viskoelastischen Eigenschaften der Filme besitzt, welche mit der Morphologie der Filme korrelieren. Des Weiteren wurden die Änderungen der viskoelastischen Eigenschaften dieser Filme untersucht, welche während dem elektronischen Schalten zwischen neutralem und oxidiertem Zustand aufgrund des Ionenaustausches erfolgen. CV- und PS-Experimente zeigten, dass die viskoelastischen Eigenschaften durch Konzentration und pH-Wert des Elektrolyten beeinflusst werden und in unterschiedlicher Weise auf die Potentialänderungen reagieren. Durch den Einbau von Magnetit-Partikeln in die Schichten konnten Hybridfilme erhalten werden, deren Eigenschaften durch das Anlegen eines äußeren Magnetfeldes beeinflusst werden können. Solche Filme zeigten in einem äußeren Magnetfeld (0,7T) höhere Schermodule und einen stark unterdrückten Ionenaustausch.