Quantitative mechanical and electrical assessment by local probe methods of inkjet-printed PEDOT:PSS thin films

Among the different technologies implied in scalable additive manufacturing inkjet printing is very well-suited for processing polymers. Thin films of PEDOT:PSS on ITO can be prepared by inkjet printing technology. A relatively broad range of thicknesses can be obtained by addition of subsequent polymer layers resembling an additive manufacturing process. The resulting inkjet PEDOT:PSS films are homogeneous as regard both electrical and mechanical properties. In spite of line topography both the Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (QNM) and the Conductive-AFM (C-AFM) characterization reveal homogeneous values throughout the polymer surface regardless of the welding zones. The results discussed in this work provide the basis for the application of inkjet printing as deposition method for electrically conducting PEDOT:PSS into large area with mechanical stability.