Enhanced electrical conductivity of polypyrrole prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization: effect of the preparation technique and polymer additive

Abstract

The electrical conductivity of chemically prepared polypyrrole in aqueous solution was found to be strongly dependent on the preparation technique and polymer additive. Owing to the hygroscopic nature of polypyrrole, it is essential to remove residual water. Accordingly, the conductivity can be enhanced by about two orders of magnitude when using a preparation technique that includes a washing treatment with organic solvents and drying under vacuum at elevated temperatures to attain maximum removal of water. Thus, the electrical conductivity of polypyrrole is affected not only by reported factors such as the ratio of oxidant to pyrrole, reaction temperature, and reaction time, but also by the preparation technique. Additionally, a significant enhancement of the conductivity up to 90 S cm −1 by using of poly(ethylene glycol) as an additive during the polymerization could be achieved.