Effect of volume ratio of acetonitrile to water on the morphology and property of polypyrrole prepared by chemical oxidation method

Abstract

Polypyrrole (PPY) was prepared by the method of chemical oxidation polymerization in ice bath, and a series of products with different morphology or particle size were obtained through changing volume ratio of acetonitrile to water (VRAW) in the mixed reaction solvents. The structures, morphologies, yield, and conductivities of the as-prepared PPY were characterized by FTIR, SEM, electronic balance, and Four-probe conductivity meter. Furthermore, the effect of VRAW on the morphology of the obtained PPY was investigated in detail. As shown from the corresponding results, PPY's average diameter decreased with the increase of VRAW in the range of 1:9 to 4:6, with particle morphology; the film-shaped PPY was obtained when VRAW was in the scope of 5:5 to 7:3. According to the analysis on the polymerization mechanism of pyrrole in the reaction mixture, the change of PPY's morphology was attributed to the structure change of acetonitrile micelle from spherical structure to double layered structure. As the further study shown, the PPY synthesized at a VRAW of 1:9 shows higher yield and conductivity than which prepared in pure water without acetonitrile; however, the further increase of VRAW results in the decrease of the yield and conductivity. Copyright © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers.