Pure PEDOT:PSS Conductive Microgels

The development of bioelectronics has been limited by the mechanical and functional mismatch between traditional electrode materials (e.g., Pt, Au, Si) and biological tissues, often leading to chronic implant failure. Conductive hydrogels, particularly poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), offer a promising alternative due to their biocompatibility, flexibility, and high conductivity. However, current PEDOT:PSS hydrogels often suffer from reduced conductivity when polymerized within insulating networks, and pure PEDOT:PSS hydrogels are challenging to synthesize due to mechanical instability. Additionally, existing conductive hydrogel systems lack the hierarchical organization seen in biological structures, limiting their functionality.

To address these challenges, we present a facile lithography-based methodology for synthesizing pure PEDOT:PSS microgels as a versatile colloidal platform. This approach enables scalable production of conductive microgels capable of encapsulating functional nanoparticles, with tunable size based on precursor concentration and mold dimensions. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of pure PEDOT:PSS structures at the colloidal scale, offering potential for advanced bioelectronic applications with enhanced mechanical and functional compatibility.