Optimizing the polymerization conditions of conductive polypyrrole

Abstract

Nanostructured polypyrrole (PPy) was successfully prepared via template-free emulsion polymerization method. In this paper, we discuss the influence of polymerization conditions such as the types of doping agent, the reaction time, the reaction temperature, the types of oxidant, and the oxidant-pyrrole molar ratio on the yield and resistance of doped PPy. The results revealed that these factors had an important effect on yield and resistance properties of the doped PPy. When synthesized under the optimal reaction condition at 0oC, the yield and resistance of the doped PPy were 66% and 0.12 Ω, respectively. In addition, the crystallinity, chemical structure and morphology of the doped nanostructured PPy under the optimal polymerization condition and the undoped PPy were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The results demonstrated that doped polypyrrole has the morphology of interconnected spherical structure and higher crystallinity.