Use of polymeric ionic liquids as stabilizers in the synthesis of polypyrrole organic dispersions

Abstract

Polypyrrole dispersions in several organic media were synthesized by using polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) both as steric stabilizers and as phase transfer agents. Firstly, PPy aqueous dispersions were prepared by polymerizing pyrrole in the presence of poly(1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide) as steric stabilizer. By addition of different salts: lithium triflate, bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt, bis(pentafluoroethane)sulfonimide lithium salt, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt and p-toluene-4-sulfonic acid monohydrate, the polymeric stabilizer becomes hydrophobic, precipitating in water and trapping the PPy dispersed microparticles inside. Polypyrrole organic dispersions were obtained by dispersion of the corresponding powders in a variety of organic solvents such as methanol, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), acetone, tetrahydrofurane (THF), butanone and toluene. The dispersability or non-dispersability of the PPy powders in each of the organic solvents depended on the nature of the added coagulating salt. Characterization of the PPy organic dispersions by photon correlation spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed individual particles with sizes between 100 and 400 nm. After casting the organic dispersions, the films showed a granular nanostructured surface and electrical conductivity values as high as 10 −1 S/cm.