Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of polypyrrole/V2O5 composites

Polypyrrole (PPy) and its composites with vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) were synthesized in aqueous medium by chemical oxidation polymerization using FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O as an oxidant. The materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetry analyzer (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), UV/visible spectroscopic techniques and LCR-meter. The FT-IR results confirmed the successful synthesis of PPy and PPy/V2O5 composites. The XRD study showed the amorphous and crystalline nature of PPy and PPy/V2O5 composites, respectively. The TGA analysis showed slight increase in the thermal stability of the composites. The SEM data verified the porous nature of PPy and the composites. The UV/visible spectrometry confirmed the doping of PPy in composites. The electrical properties of the materials displayed their semiconducting nature. The resistance of the samples was found to be dependent on temperature and the contents of V2O5 in the composites.