Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of polypyrrole composite coatings

Pyrrole monomer was dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) solutions, which were previously mixed with an iron chloride solution. The resulting mixtures were coated on substrates, and as the solution solvents were evaporated pyrrole was polymerized in the composite coatings. The very low percolation threshold values and the continuous percolation phenomena of the electrical conductivity of these coatings suggest a chain structure of the conductive PPy in the composites and a good miscibility between the conductive phase and the insulator hosts as well. FT-IR studies of the coatings suggest molecular interactions between the functional groups of the polymer matrices and PPB through the iron salt molecules, which could be the reasons for the good miscibility between the semiconductor and insulator components of the composite coatings. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.