Optical and dielectric properties of polypyrrole nanoparticles in a polyvinylalcohol matrix

We present results of a spectroscopic and dielectric investigation of polypyrrole (PPY) particles dispersed within a polyvinylalcohol (PVA) matrix. These systems, prepared by using a surfactant to encapsulate PPY chains into micelles that were subsequently dispersed in a PVA gel or film, present hybrid electrical characteristics. Their electrical properties are determined by the number, size and state of the aggregation of the micelles, since macroscopic charge transfer must involve charge percolation through the PPY chains followed by hopping between neighboring micelles. We have examined how these properties depend on the relative concentration of the conducting (PPY) and dielectric (PVA) polymers. We suggest that such conducting polymer micelles can be used as efficient trapping vectors for removal of metallic particles of nanoscopic size. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.