Electrochemical reactivity on conducting polymer alloys

Embedding macromolecules and active centers such as inorganic nano-particles into conducting polymers (CPs) has been an ongoing challenge due to the normally harsh conditions required during chemical or electrochemical polymerization that limits the selection of the functional molecules to be incorporated. By developing alternative approaches for incorporating various organic and inorganic materials into CPs it has been possible to obtain efficient charge transfer within the 'alloys'. In this report, two facile techniques are discussed for obtaining such composites: 1) In-situ polymerisation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in the presence of non-conducting polymers and 2) electrochemical deposition in-organic nano-particles inside PEDOT.