PREPARATION OF CONDUCTIVE POLYPYRROLE-POLYSTYRENE SULFONATE BY CHEMICAL POLYMERIZATION

A new method for the chemical preparation of conductive polypyrrole-po lystyrene sulfonate (PPy-PSS) using FeCl3 as oxidant is proposed. The method is based on the different precipitation rates of the two PPy-ba sed polymers: PPy-PSS and polypyrrole-chloride (PPy-Cl). Thus, by choo sing a short reaction time (a few minutes) pure PPy-PSS, free of condu ctive PPy-Cl, is obtained after filtration. The presence of meta-hydro xy benzoic acid in the reaction medium allows shorter reaction times t o be used, and higher yield values of conductive material to be obtain ed.