Facile Solid‐State Synthesis of Highly Conducting Poly(ethylenedioxythiophene)

Gentle heating of crystalline 2,5-dibromo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene affords a highly conducting, bromine-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). The conductivity of the polymer can be further increased by doping with iodine. By using this approach, thin films of PEDOT with a conductivity as high as 20 S cm−1 can be easily fabricated on insulating plastic surfaces (see picture).