Electrically conductive nanocomposite particles with a poly alkylacrylate core and a conductive polymer shell

An electrically conductive nanocomposite particles comprising:

• a core consisting of a homopolymer of poly-C1-C6-alkyl-acrylate or of a copolymer of C1-C6 alkyl acrylate and an α,β-unsaturated amide comonomer;
• a shell comprising a conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), derivatives of PEDOT and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT);
• and
• a nonionic surfactant.

A method for preparing a dispersion of electrically conductive nanocomposite particles comprising:

• a core consisting of a homopolymer of poly-C1-C6-alkyl-acrylate or of a copolymer of C1-C6 alkyl acrylate and an α,β-unsaturated amide comonomer;
• a shell comprising a conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), derivatives of PEDOT and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT);
• and
• a nonionic surfactant,
• said process comprising the steps of:
• (a) polymerization of C1-C6 alkyl acrylate monomers, and optionally α,β-unsaturated amide monomers, in the presence of a nonionic surfactant and a polymerization catalyst in a dispersing medium to obtain a latex in aqueous solution;
• (b) dissolving a polyelectrolyte stabilizing the conductive polymer in an aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution comprising said polyelectrolyte;
• (c) adding 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers, EDOT derivatives or 3-hexylthiophene to the aqueous solution comprising the polyelectrolyte obtained in step (b);
• (d) adding a polymerization initiator and the latex obtained in step (a) to the solution comprising the polyelectrolyte and the monomers obtained in step (c);
• and
• (e) polymerization of the monomers to form the dispersion of electrically conductive nanocomposite particles.

A method of printing on a stretchable support, comprising the steps of providing electrically conductive nanocomposite particles comprising:

• a core consisting of a homopolymer of poly-C1-C6-alkyl-acrylate or of a copolymer of C1-C6 alkyl acrylate and an α,β-unsaturated amide comonomer;
• a shell comprising a conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), derivatives of PEDOT and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT);
• a nonionic surfactant;
• and
• printing the electrically conductive nanocomposite particles on the stretchable support.

A printed stretchable support, wherein the print comprises at least one electrically conductive nanocomposite particle comprising:

• a core consisting of a homopolymer of poly-C1-C6-alkyl-acrylate or of a copolymer of C1-C6 alkyl acrylate and an α,β-unsaturated amide comonomer;
• a shell comprising a conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), derivatives of PEDOT and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT);
• and
• a nonionic surfactant.