Researchers from Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, and Rice University have discovered a simple heat-based method to stabilize a key bioelectronic material.
Advances in materials science have expanded possibilities for bioelectronics—devices worn or implanted to monitor or support organs, tissues, and cells, aiding in disease prevention and treatment. PEDOT:PSS, a conductive and flexible polymer, is a promising material for bioelectronics due to its compatibility with biological tissues. However, it gradually dissolves in biological fluids, a challenge previously addressed with chemical treatments.
Researchers from Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, and Rice University have discovered a simpler approach using heat. Their study shows that thermal treatment stabilizes PEDOT:PSS films in water without chemical additives.
After noticing this effect in their earlier research, the team investigated whether heating PEDOT:PSS films could also stabilize them in fluids. They also aimed to understand how heating above certain temperatures altered the films’ properties and whether this method could replace chemical stabilization processes.
The researchers’ heat treatment method could allow direct patterning of PEDOT:PSS by applying heat to specific areas, eliminating the need for complex lithography techniques. They also demonstrated micro-scale 3D printing of PEDOT:PSS using a focused femtosecond laser beam.
Initial tests showed promising results, with the heat-based approach stabilizing PEDOT:PSS films in water and enhancing their performance. The team’s heat-based treatment can be easily integrated into existing manufacturing processes. This could streamline the development of PEDOT:PSS-based devices, including bioelectronics, wearable electronics, and electronic skins.
Using their heat-based approach, the researchers created complex 3D PEDOT:PSS structures, including blocks, textured surfaces, and sculptural test pieces with curves, bevels, and recesses. They achieved this through femtosecond laser patterning, though other laser-based methods could also be used.
They hope materials scientists and engineers will explore this thermal treatment to stabilize PEDOT:PSS films without chemical processes. In the future, this approach could support the development of implantable devices and other water-resistant technologies.
In future studies, the team plan to explore the underlying mechanisms behind PEDOT:PSS stabilization when heated above 150°C for over two minutes. They will use advanced imaging and material characterization techniques to investigate this process.
Reference: Doshi et al, Thermal Processing Creates Water‐Stable PEDOT:PSS Films for Bioelectronics, Advanced Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202415827
