Preparation of intrinsic flexible conductive PEDOT:PSS@ionogel composite film and its application for touch panel

• Intrinsic flexible conducting film by combining PEDOT:PSS with ionogel. • The ionogel endows the film with good mechanical and electrical conductivity. • The intrinsic flexible composite film as top electrode for touch panel devices. PEDOT:PSS-based conductive films have emerged as promising next-generation flexible transparent electrodes. However, the PEDOT:PSS-based electrodes suffer from poor electrical conductivity with extremely large mechanical deformation, owing to generation of defects, or partial exfoliation of PEDOT:PSS film from the underlying substrates. Herein, we report an intrinsic flexible conductive PEDOT:PSS@P[VEIm][DCA] composite film prepared by combining poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with cross-linked poly(1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium dicyanamide) (P[VEIm][DCA]) ionogel, which exhibits high conductivity and transparency with negligible changes under harsh environmental conditions. The cross-linked P[VEIm][DCA] network can endow the composite film not only with excellent free-standing property, but also significantly enhanced electrical conductivity. We have successfully incorporated the PEDOT:PSS@P[VEIm][DCA] composite film into wearable touch panel device. We believe that the designed PEDOT:PSS@ionogel composite film is making an important step toward applications in flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices including touch panels, displays and so on.