Preparation of electrically conducting polypyrrole in oil/water microemulsion

Nanoscopic conducting polypyrrole powder was prepared in an oil/water micro emulsion with FeCl3 as a dopant. Compared with solution and conventional em ulsion polymerizations, a microemulsion polymerization system increases the yield of the resultant polypyrrole. The results of FTIR spectra and therma l analysis studies indicate that the microemulsion polymerization system in creased the extent of the pi-conjugation length along the polymer backbone and ordered the arrangement of the macromolecule chains. These two effects bring about enhanced conductivity as well as higher thermal stability of po lypyrrole. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.