Preparation of electrically conducting polypyrrole in oil/water microemulsion

Nanoscopic conducting polypyrrole powder was prepared in an oil/water microemulsion with FeCl3 as a dopant. Compared with solution and conventional emulsion polymerizations, a microemulsion polymerization system increases the yield of the resultant polypyrrole. The results of FTIR spectra and thermal analysis studies indicate that the microemulsion polymerization system increased the extent of the π-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 polypyrrole.