Synthesis of Conducting Polymer Spiral Nanostructures Using a Surfactant Crystallite Template

The present work describes, for the first time, the synthesis of spiral nanostructures of conducting polymers by chemical oxidant polymerization using a hydrated surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDSn)) crystallite template. A spiral dislocation structure on the surface of a hydrated SDSn crystallite has been observed and is responsible for the growth of the spiral nanoarchitecture of conducting polymers (polypyrrole, polyaniline). Ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) has a strong tendency to induce the formation of a spiral dislocation structure of hydrated SDSn crystallites. The mechanism of adsorption of pyrrole or aniline oligomers on the steps of dislocation is proposed for the growth of conducting polymer spirals. magnified image