Smooth Surface Polypyrrole‐Silica Core‐Shell Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization and Properties

Polypyrrole‐silica nanoparticles were prepared by in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer in the presence of specially modified silica nanoparticles having vinyl functional groups on the surface. The presence of polypyrrole (PPy) on the surface of silica nanoparticles was confirmed using FT‐IR spectroscopy. The core‐shell morphology was analyzed by TEM. A uniform and smooth shell of PPy on the silica nanoparticles and absence of free PPy homopolymer were the main features of the proposed method that employs modified silica nanoparticles for the synthesis of the PPy‐coated silica nanoparticles. SEM investigation of the particles deposited on a glass surface showed a narrow size distribution with an average diameter of 240 nm for the particles. The weight percentage of PPy was estimated using TGA and DSC to be approximately 10 wt.‐%. Further investigations a by two‐probe conductivity method of glass slides coated with the nanoparticles showed an electrical conductivity of 7 S · cm−1. The static water contact angle was as high as 169 °. magnified image