Polypyrrole microspheroidals decorated with Ag nanostructure: Synthesis and their characterization

In this work, polypyrrole (PPy) microspheroidals were synthesized by chronopotentiometry on conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. These prepared PPy microspheroidals were subjected to surface modification by Ag nanostructures using cyclic voltammetery (CV). The decoration of Ag nanostructures on PPy surface was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images show nanostar like structures with slight aggregation of Ag nanostructures on the PPy surface. The average particle size of PPy was found to increase from 7.3 to 30 nm after decoration with Ag nanostructure. Further, the XRD patterns shows a decrease in interchain separation and inter planar distance after the impregnation of Ag nanostructures in the PPy film when compared with pure PPy film. FTIR and Raman spectra displayed main vibrational bands; including the characteristic peaks. Raman spectra also show the signature of polaron and bipolaron states. Electrical conductivity of the Ag nanostructure decorated PPy microspheroidals has been measured by the two probe method. A possible mechanism for the formation of Ag-PPy nanostructure has been proposed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.