Synthesis and characterization of uniform arrays of copper sulfide nanorods coated with nanolayers of polypyrrole

Isolated and uniform Cu2S nanorods have been prepared in well-aligned large arrays on a copper surface using a modified procedure. Polypyrrole (PPY) has been homogeneously deposited on the Cu2S nanorods via in situ polymerization at the interfacial layer between chloroform and water. For the coating reaction the pyrrole (PY) monomer and the oxidant (NH4)(2)S2O8 were dissolved in chloroform and water, respectively. With a PY:oxidant molar ratio of 1.00 and a PY concentration of 0.036 M in chloroform, the PPY coating is smooth, robust, and uniform, extending along the entire length of the Cu2S nanorods. The thickness of the PPY coating could be controlled (20-50 nm) by varying the polymerization time. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and micro-Raman spectra were used to characterize the core/sheath nanorod arrays Of Cu2S/PPY.