PEDOT:PSS-Based Stretchable Organic Electrochemical Diode with a High Rectification Ratio at High Frequency (1 kHz)

Abstract

Stretchable diodes are fundamental building blocks for rectification and logic operations in soft integrated circuits; however, conventional diodes suffer from a persistent trade-off between rectification performance and electromechanical durability. Although electronic diodes based on rigid inorganic semiconductors deliver high rectification ratios exceeding 103, their intrinsic brittleness restricts their application in deformable electronics. Conversely, conventional ionic diodes utilizing compliant ionic conductors can accommodate large tensile strains (>50%), but they are typically limited to low-frequency operations (<1 Hz) with modest rectification ratios (<100). Herein, we demonstrate a highly robust stretchable organic electrochemical diode based on a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) active layer. The rectifying behavior originates from bias-dependent hole injection and extraction at the junction between the PEDOT:PSS active layer and an Ag flake composite anode, which dynamically modulates the electrochemical doping state of the active layer to induce a highly asymmetric interfacial impedance response. Remarkably, the organic electrochemical diode preserves a rectification ratio of 300 at 1 kHz even under 100% tensile strain, alongside exceptional mechanical durability over 1,000 stretch–release cycles at 20% strain. Using this robust high-frequency capability, integrated OR and AND logic gates are successfully demonstrated to process 1 kHz alternating current (AC) signals. By simultaneously combining superior electromechanical stability, a high rectification ratio, and practical kHz operation, this platform represents a significant leap forward in the realization of next-generation deformable electronic systems.