Preparation and characterisation of polypyrrole colloids in non-aqueous media

We have prepared polypyrrole both as a bulk powder and as a sterically stabilised colloidal dispersion in a noved non-aqueous solvent, 2-merhoxyethanol. The steric stabiliser utilised in the latter system was a poly(vinyl acetate) homopolymer. The electroactivity, morphology, thermal stability and chemical composition of these materials were characterised by d.c. conductivity measurememts, electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, FTIR and visible absorption spectroscopy and clemental microanalyses. The mass ratio of poly(vinyl acetate) to polypyrrole in the colloidal particles was determined indirectly by spectroscopic assay of the post-reaction supernatant solution for non-adsorbed stabiliser.