POLYPYRROLE-TIN-(IV) OXIDE COLLOIDAL NANOCOMPOSITES

We have chemically polymerised pyrrole in the presence of ultra-fine t in (IV) oxide particles which act as a particulate dispersant for poly pyrrole. The resulting polypyrrole-tin (IV) oxide nanocomposite colloi ds have been investigated and compared to the polypyrrole-silica nanoc omposite colloids previously reported. We find that essentially the sa me minimum substrate surface area is required for both the tin (IV) ox ide and silica sols to ensure successful colloid formation. Our BET su rface area measurements confirm that these nanocomposite particles hav e significant micro-porosity. The polypyrrole-tin (IV) oxide nanocompo site colloids are more polydisperse than polypyrrole-silica nanocompos ite colloids but their solid-state conductivities are somewhat higher (up to 4 S cm(-1)).