Development of electrical conducting nanocomposite based on carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel/silver nanoparticles@polypyrrole

This study provides insights about the influence of incorporation of silver nanoparticles or silver nanoparticles@polypyrrole composite on the thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of carboxymethylcellulose-g-poly(acrylamide-co-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) hydrogel prepared via graft copolymerization and cross-linking of acrylamidomethylpropanesulfonic acid and acrylamide into carboxymethyl cellulose. The hydrogel exhibited improved the thermal stability and mechanical properties, increased specific surface area, pore radius, and pore volum upon incorporation of silver nanoparticles. Meanwhile the addition of polypyrrole to the hydrogel negatively impacted the hydrogel thermal stability, surface area and mechanical properties. The electrical conductivity measurements were studied at range frequency range of 100 mHz to 10 MHz. The results revealed the remarkable enhancement of the de conductivity for the hydrogel containing silver nanoparticles@polypyrrole. The dielectric properties of the composite containg hydrogel/silver nanoparticles@polypyrrole promise their utility as a green, cheap electrical conducting electrolyte in the fabrication of supercapacitors and energy storage devices.