Synthesis and Characterization of Polyvinylferrocene/Polypyrrole Composites

Conducting polymer composites of polyvinylferrocene and polypyrrole (PVF/PPy) were synthesized chemically by the in situ polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of PVF using FeCl₃ as oxidant. Acetic (CH₃COOH) and boric (H₃BO₃) acids were used as the synthesis medium. Effects of the synthesis medium on the properties of the PVF/PPy composite were investigated. The PVF/PPy composites and homopolymers were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and magnetic susceptibility techniques. Conductivity measurements were performed using the four‐probe technique. We found that the conductivities of PVF/PPy‐H₃BO₃ (1.19 S cm^?1) and PVF/PPy‐CH₃COOH (4.5×10^?1 S cm^?1) increased relative to those of the homopolymers of PPy‐H₃BO₃ (2.1×10^?2 S cm^?1) and PPy‐CH₃COOH (1.2×10^?2 S cm^?1) due to the interaction of PVF with the pyrrole moiety. The stability of all homopolymers and composites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and by conductivity measurements during heating‐cooling cycles. There was a small drop in conductivity caused by the annealing of PVF/PPy composites at 70°C. The conductivity of all samples increased with temperature and exhibited stable electrical behavior with increasing temperature. TGA analysis of samples showed that the composites were more stable than the homopolymers or PVF separately. The magnetic susceptibility values of samples were negative, except for PVF/PPy‐H₃BO₃. Morphology changes of the composites investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attributed to synthesis conditions, have a significant effect on their conductivity.     

Improvement in carrier mobility of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires synthesized in porous alumina templates

Polymeric nanowires of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) are electrochemically synthesized using porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) membranes as templates. Four‐point resistivity measurements on more than 100 PEDOT nanowires with different diameters (50–250 nm) reveal a statistically significant size‐dependent phenomenon in which the nanowires with a smaller diameter exhibit higher conductivity. Structural characterization with Raman spectroscopy and doping level estimation with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the observed conductivity enhancement can be attributed to improved carrier mobility in PEDOT nanowires having an elongated conjugation structure because of the effect of the AAO template. From the estimated doping levels (～5%) and conductivity data (～100 S/cm), it is found that the carrier mobility reach 2.0 cm²/V s for the nanowire with the smallest diameter, as compared with 4.0 × 10^?4 cm²/V s for a bulk PEDOT film. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Composites of polypyrrole with conducting and ferromagnetic behaviors

Composites of polypyrrole (PPy) with electrical and ferromagnetic behaviors were synthesized by a chemical method in the presence of p‐dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid sodium salt (NaDS) as a surfactant and dopant. The magnetic properties of the resulting composites showed ferromagnetic behavior, such as high saturated magnetization (M_s = 3.06–43.7 emu/g), and coercive force (H_c = 9–57 Oe). The saturated magnetization linearly increased with increases in the Fe content. No influence of the counterion on this relationship was observed. The conductivity of the composites at room temperature depended on the counterion and doping degree. The highest conductivity of 10⁰ S/cm was achieved under the optimal synthetic conditions. A structural characterization by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, and X‐ray diffraction proved that nanometer‐sized (16–20‐nm) iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) in the composites was responsible for the ferromagnetic behavior of the composites, whereas the high conductivity of the composites contributed to the difficult deprotonation of the doping PPy with DS⁻ counterion in a basic reaction medium. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2734–2739, 2000     

Preparation and characterization of conducting poly(acryloyl chloride)‐g‐ polypyrrole copolymer

The electroactive copolymer of poly(acryloyl chloride) (PAC) and polypyrrole (PPy) can be synthesized by electrochemical polymerization using a polymer precursor which contains a pyrrole moiety in its side chain. Poly(acryloyl pyrrole) (PAP) was synthesized chemically with acryloyl chloride and potassium pyrrole salt and characterized using FT‐IR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. PAP dissolved in dimethyl formamide (DMF), was spin‐coated on a platinum electrode and polymerized electrochemically in the electrolytic mixture solution consisting of acetonitrile, 0.1 M pyrrole, and 0.1 M lithium perchlorate. Constant potential electrolysis showed that pyrrole groups in the precursor were oxidized to form PPy, that is, they acted as grafting centers at which the PPy grew. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results and conductivity measurements supported the formation of the graft copolymer. The morphological feature of PAC‐g‐PPy copolymer films showed homogeneous structure, but that of PAC/PPy composite films showed irregular structure. The maximum conductivity of the final products was about 1 S/cm. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of the Conductivity of the Polypyrrole Film via Its CC Bonds Stretching on Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectrum

In this study, the conductivities of various polypyrrole (PPy) films were evaluated via the corresponding surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that the peak position of C?C bonds stretching of PPy obtained from the SERS spectrum shows more exactly both qualitatively and quantitatively representing the conductivity of PPy than the N⁺/N ratio or the doping level obtained from the XPS analysis does. Namely the peak position of C?C bonds stretching of PPy monotone decreases to a lower frequency side with the increase of the conductivity of PPy. Furthermore, a satisfactory correlated equation between them was obtained. On the contrary, neither the N⁺/N ratio nor the doping level can be qualitatively reflective on the corresponding conductivity of PPy.     

Novel preparation of electrically conducting poly (vinyl chloride) by photo-dehydrochlorination from poly (vinyl chloride)/polypyrrole composite film

Polypyrrole (PPy) was deposited electrochemically on a platinum plate from a nitric acid solution of pyrrole. The PVC/PPy composite film was finally obtained by casting poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) onto the PPy electrode from a tetrahydrofuran solution of PVC. The prepared composite film was irradiated at 90°C with a low-pressure mercury lamp in the stream of hydrogen gas saturated with steam, and the PVC film was dehydrochlorinated, leading to the formation of conjugated polyene. The electrical conductivity (σ) of the PVC film in the irradiated composite film was reveled: σ=2.51 × 10^?5S cm^?1. By iodine doping, σ was further enhanced up to 5.04 X 10^?3 S cm^?1. The tensile strength of the irradiated composite film became larger than that of the original PVC film; i.e., the stress at break was: 461 (composite film); 401 kg cm^?2 (PVC). These results were brought about by the doping of radical species to the conjugated polyene. The anion, NO^?₃, doped during the electrodeposition of PPy was photodecomposed to generate radical NO₂ and this species was doped to the polyene, resulting in the formation of electrically conductive PVC and mechanically improved composite film. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of polypyrrole/graphite oxide composite by in situ emulsion polymerization

This work demonstrates a feasible route to synthesize the layered polypyrrole/graphite oxide (PPy/GO) composite by in situ emulsion polymerization in the presence of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as emulsifier. AFM and XRD results reveal that the GO can be delaminated into nanosheets and well dispersed in aqueous solution in the presence of CTAB. The PPy nanowires are formed due to the presence of the lamellar mesostructured (CTA)₂S₂O₈ as a template. The results of the PPy/GO composite indicate the PPy insert successfully into GO interlayers, and the nanofiber‐like PPy are deposited onto the GO surface. Owing to π–π electron stacking effect between the pyrrole ring of PPy and the unoxided domain of GO sheets, the electrical conductivity of PPy/GO composite (5 S/cm) significantly improves in comparison with pure PPy nanowires (0.94 S/cm) and pristine GO (1 × 10^?6 S/cm). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1329–1335, 2010     

Tubular polypyrrole synthesized by in situ doping polymerization in the presence of organic function acids as dopants

Tubular polypyrrole (PPy) could be synthesized by in situ doping polymerization in the presence of β‐naphthalene sulfonic acid (NSA) as dopant. The resultant tubular PPy–NSA not only exhibits high room temperature conductivity (ς_RT = 10 S/cm) but is also soluble in m‐cresol. The molecular structure of PPy–NSA is identical to the characteristic structure of PPy synthesized by a conventional method. It has been demonstrated that NSA dopant with large molecular size and plate–lebe structure is a key factor to control formation of tubular PPy–NSA. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1443–1449, 1999     

Conductivity enhancement in raw polypyrrole and polypyrrole nanoparticle dispersions

For certain commercial applications of polypyrrole (PPy), an enhancement of the electrical conductivity of the material is the key to industrial success. In this paper it will be shown that raw PPy with high conductivity (>150 S/cm) can be obtained in very good yield (>90%) by appropriate selection of both bi‐functional additives and reaction conditions which increase the oxidative polymerization rate of pyrrole. The presence of new active centers for the polymerization is demonstrated by UV measurements. In addition, raw PPy synthesized according to the improved method of synthesis shows good stability of the conductivity upon aging at high temperature (150°C) in air. Finally, new PPy dispersions are reported with an average particle size of 67 nm obtained by sonochemical synthesis that can be incorporated into conventional plastic paints for direct metallization of plastics. The conductivity of the new metallization paint developed was 0.4 S/cm with a PPy content of 10 wt%. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conductive Composite Materials of Polyethylene and Polypyrrole with High Modulus and High Strength

Composite films of polyethylene (PE) and polypyrrole (PPy) were prepared by polymerization of PPy on an ultradrawn polyethylene film with high modulus and high strength in ferric chloride (FeCl₃) aqueous solution. The electrical conductivity of the composite film was found to be related to the polymerization conditions, such as polymerization temperature, polymerization time, the concentration and the oxidation potential of the FeCl₃ solution. Scanning electron microscopy, FTIR and ¹³C NMR spectra were used to elucidate the morphological and structural variations of PPy prepared under different conditions, which lead to the differences in the electrical properties of the resultant composite films. The best electrical conductivity of the composite was about 5.5 S/cm for the film prepared under optimum conditions. The Young's modulus and the tensile strength reached 80 GPa and 3.2 GPa, respectively, which indicated the successful production of a conductive polymer with high strength and high modulus.     

Conducting core‐sheath nanofibers for electroactive shape‐memory applications

Conducting nanofibers coated with polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) exhibiting core‐sheath structures were prepared by vapor‐phase polymerization of the conducting polymers on electrospun polyurethane nanofibers. The synthesis of the conducting polymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy‐disperse X‐ray spectroscopy. The surfaces of the PPy‐coated nanofibers were slightly rough, while very smooth and regular surfaces were observed in the case of the P3HT‐coated nanofibers. The initial polymerization rate of PPy was higher than that of P3HT. In addition, the electrical conductivities of the core‐sheath structured nanofiber webs of both types increased with polymerization time. The maximum sheet conductivity of the PPy and P3HT‐coated nanofiber webs was 5 × 10^?3 S/cm and 1 × 10^?2 S/cm, respectively. The webs of the conducting core‐sheath structured nanofibers were effective in generating sufficient electrical heating necessary for harnessing these materials for electroactive shape‐memory‐based applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Properties of Self‐doped Polyaniline with Polycationic Templates via Biocatalysis

The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to polymerize acid‐functionalized anilines to make self‐doped polymer in the presence of a polycationic template. Anionic templates such as sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) could not function as a suitable template for the polymerization of acid‐functionalized aniline derivatives. Several types of polyelectrolytes were used as templates to observe the structural effects and doping behavior of polyaniline/template complexes. The synthesis is straightforward and the conditions are mild in that the polymerization of conducting polyanilines may be carried out in buffered solutions as high as pH 6, with a stoichiometric amount of hydrogen peroxide and catalytic amount of enzyme. The conductivity of these enzymatically synthesized self‐doped polymers was relatively high without additional doping due to the self‐doping of the acid moieties. The conductivity did not decrease dramatically at pH 3 as is the usual case of unsubstituted HCl‐doped polyaniline and maintained good conductivity even at pH 6. The measured conductivity at pH 4～pH 6 is around 10^?4 S/cm to 10^?6 S/cm.     

Preparation of Polypyrrole/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Core-Shell Nanoparticles in Four-Component Microemulsion Media

Electrically conductive polypyrrole (PPy)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized by two-step microemulsion polymerization. PPy core particles were prepared in a four-component microemulsion system, which was formed with surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), cosurfactant n-pentanol, water, and pyrrole. Ferric chloride and iodine was added as the oxidant and the dopant, respectively. Then the PPy nanoparticles were coated with PMMA to prepare PPy/PMMA core-shell nanoparticles. The morphology of PPy/PMMA core-shell nanoparticles was characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the structure of the samples. The electrical conductivities of samples were studied by a Hall effect testing instrument. Despite being coated with a layer of insulation, the conductivity of the composite PPy/PMMA core-shell nanoparticles could still reached to 7.856 × 10^?1 S/cm.     

Synthesis and characterization of polypyrrole nanofibers with different dopants

Nanostructures of polypyrrole (PPy) were synthesized in the presence of different dopants including hydrochloric acid (HCl), ferric chloride (FeCl₃), p‐toluene sulfonic acid (p‐TSA), camphor sulfonic acid (CSA), and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA), using a simple interfacial oxidative polymerization method. The method is a reliable non‐template approach with relatively simple instrumentation, ease of synthesis, and economic viability for synthesizing PPy nanostructures. Morphology of synthesized PPy structures was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which indicate the formation of one‐dimensional (1D) nanofibers with average diameter of 75–180 nm. Energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) of the PPy nanofibers indicates the attachment of the dopants to the PPy backbone; the fact is further confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of PPy nanostructures. Thermal stabilities of the nanostructures explored using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) follow the order PPy‐p‐TSA > CSA > HCl > FeCl₃ > PSSA. It is noticed that the electrical conductivity (EC) of PPy nanostructures depends upon the nature of dopant (PPy‐p‐TSA > CSA > HCl > FeCl₃ > PSSA), PPy‐p‐TSA nanofibers showing the highest EC of 6 × 10^?2 Scm^?1. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel polybenzimidazoles bearing pendant phenoxyamine groups

A novel aromatic diacid, 3, 5‐dicarboxyl‐4′‐amino diphenyl ether, containing pendant phenoxy amine group was synthesized. Homo‐ and co‐polybenzimidazoles containing different content of pendant phenoxyamine groups were synthesized by condensation of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine with this acid and a mixture of this acid and isophthalic acid in different ratio in polyphosphoric acid. Copolybenzimidazoles with structural variations were also synthesized based on this acid and pyridine dicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid, adipic acid, or sebacic acid. The polymers have good solubility in polar aprotic solvents and strong acids and they form tough flexible films by solution casting. The polymers were characterized by different instrumental techniques (FTIR, TGA, DSC, XRD, etc.) and for solvent solubility, mechanical properties, inherent viscosity, and proton conductivity. The inherent viscosities of the polymers vary in the range of 0.62–1.52 dL/g. They have high thermal stability up to 475–506 °C (IDT) in nitrogen, high glass transition temperatures (T_g) ranging from 313 to 435 °C and good tensile strength ranging from 58 to 125 MPa. Proton conductivity of homo polymer is 3.72 × 10^?3 S/cm at 25 °C and 2.45 × 10^?2 S/cm at 200 °C © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5776–5793, 2008     

Synthesis of electrically conductive polypyrrole-polystyrene composites using supercritical carbon dioxide: II. Effects of the doping conditions

A polymer composite of polypyrrole (PPy) and polystyrene (PS) was synthesized in this study. Pyrrole was firstly impregnated within the PS substrate where supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO₂) at 40 °C and 10.5 MPa was used as the solvent. The resulting polymer composite was then soaked in a solution of metallic salt to form an electrically conductive product. Thermal analyses were carried out in this study. Glass transition temperatures from the DSC curves and thermal decomposition temperatures from the TGA curves were observed. These temperatures rise gradually from pure PS, undoped blend to doped composite that indicates blending took place in SCCO₂, and polymerization was proceeding when the pyrrole/PS blend was soaking in the doping solution. Furthermore, various effects of the doping conditions on the conductivity of the PPy/PS composite were investigated. Water and acetonitrile were used as the solvents where the former yielded a higher conductivity of the product. Various doping temperatures were studied and a maximum conductivity was observed at 25 °C. The conductivity also depends on the nature of the oxidant. A bell-shaped profile of the conductivity with respect to the concentration of each oxidant was obtained. The maximum conductivity of the composites with iron compounds as oxidants decreases in the following order of anions: chloride > sulfate > perchloride > nitrate in aqueous solutions. Comparison of the scanning electron microscope results of the composite was presented where chloride and nitrate anions were used as the oxidant. It was found that the composite with higher conductivity has higher bulk density and less porous morphology.     

The processing and properties of conductive polypropylene/polypyrrole composites

Polypropylene (PP) particles were chemically coated with polypyrrole (PPy). The content of polypyrrole varied from 0.8 to 7.6 wt.-%. Electrical conductivity of compression moulded samples depends on the concentration of polypyrrole and reached values from 4×10⁻¹⁰ to 5×10⁻³ S/cm, which is about 7 orders of magnitude higher than the conductivity in the blends prepared by mechanical mixing of PP and PPy in the same PPy concentration range. Highly conductive composites were also obtained from a mixture of coated and non-coated PP particles. The PP/PPy composites were characterized by elemental analysis, SEM and mechanical testing. The antistatic properties of PP/PPy composites were demonstrated. The electrical and mechanical properties depend on processing of composites.     

Bulk synthesis, optimization, and characterization of highly dispersible polypyrrole nanoparticles toward protein separation using nanocomposite membranes

A novel initiator-assisted polymerization is used for bulk synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles by adding a catalytic amount of initiator 2,4-diaminodiphenylamine into pyrrole solution. Through simply modulating reaction parameters such as initiator concentrations, oxidant species, oxidant/monomer molar ratios and acidic media utilized, the chemical structure, nanomorphology, product yield, dispersibility, thermal stability, electrochemical activity, and conductivity of PPy nanoparticles are facilely optimized. The initiator copolymerized with pyrrole in the initial stages of polymerization, acting like bipyrrole and helping to nucleate the PPy main chains. The stronger oxidants and higher oxidant/monomer molar ratios used lead to PPy nanoparticles with higher π-π conjugation. Sphere-like PPy nanoparticles with average diameters of 80-300nm show yield and conductivity with values up 73.5% and 10(-2)S/cm, respectively, and are readily dispersible in both water and N-methylpyrrolidone. The PPy nanoparticles are used as effective precursors for fabricating carbon nanoparticles with conductivity of 3.7S/cm. Nanocomposite membranes consisting of PPy nanoparticles and polysulfone matrix are fabricated by a phase-inversion technique and demonstrate much improved hydrophilicity, water permeability, and bovine serum albumin selectivity against pure polysulfone membranes.     

Synthesis and in situ doping of highly conductive polypyrrole nanocomplexes with binary acids

The synthesis of doped polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomplexes and their size, morphology, doping level, and electrical conductivity are discussed. The synthetic route of doped PPy nanocomplexes is presented by means of the chemical oxidative polymerization and in situ doping process in the presence of a binary acid mixture (hydrochloric acid and perchloric acid). The electrical conductivities of the doped PPy nanocomplexes are enhanced from 0.88 to 4.5 S/cm by the optimum molar ratio of HClO₄ and HCl in the binary acid mixture. In addition, the average particle size of the doped PPy nanocomplexes decreases from 280 to 30 nm with a narrow particle size distribution when increasing the proportion of HClO₄ relative to HCl in the binary acid mixture; this result is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and capillary hydrodynamic fractionation instrument analyses. Moreover, at different molar ratios in the binary acid mixture, the zeta‐potential and oxidation level of the doped PPy nanocomplexes have a confirmed association with particle size and electrical properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2329–2336     

Blends of Aromatic Polyethers Bearing Polar Pyridine Units and Their Evaluation as High Temperature Polymer Electrolytes

Aromatic polyethers containing polar pyridine units in the main chain have been synthesized using different difluoride monomers. Copolymers of 2,5-(4′,4″dihydroxy biphenyl)-pyridine and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diol with bis(4-fluorophenyl) sulfone or phenyl phosphine oxide difluoride or decafluorobiphenyl (PTMPySF, PTMPyPO, PTMPyDF) were synthesized. These polymeric structures despite their common structural characteristics, showed totally different behavior in terms of solubility and acid doping ability. Blends of these copolymers have been prepared in order to be evaluated in terms of fuel cell relevant parameters like acid doping ability and conductivity. In most cases flexible membranes were obtained by solution casting. The acid doping ability was controlled based on the blend constituents and composition. The doped membranes exhibited high conductivity values, in the range of 10⁻³ S/cm at room temperature which is increased at 2.5 × 10⁻² S/cm at temperatures up to 180 °C.