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A Template‐Free Route to Polypyrrole Nanofibers
Author(s) -
Tran Henry D.,
Shin Koo,
Hong Won G.,
D'Arcy Julio M.,
Kojima Robert W.,
Weiller Bruce H.,
Kaner Richard B.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200700581
Subject(s) - polypyrrole , nanofiber , materials science , polymerization , chemical engineering , pyrrole , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , engineering
A template‐free method for the production of polypyrrole nanofibers is presented. By adding a small amount of bipyrrole into the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole, a drastic change in the morphology of the observed material is observed from large, granular particles to nanofibrils with an average diameter of 20 nm. This simple procedure allows for the production of polypyrrole nanofibers without the presence of surfactants or other structural directing agents. The polypyrrole nanofibers can form stable water dispersions which can be cast into films of sufficient quality to function as chemical sensors for analytes such as ammonia.