An electrochemically synthesized conducting semi-IPN from polypyrrole and poly(vinyl alcohol)

The present work reports electrochemical synthesis of a semi-IPN (s-IPN) following electropolymerization of pyrrole from an aqueous medium within a crosslinked network of PVA. This combination resulted in a set of free standing and flexible films having high electrical conductivity and good environmental stability. Primarily three different types of samples were prepared by electropolymerization of pyrrole using a monomeric dopant (styrene sulfonate, SS), a polymeric dopant (poly( styrene sulfonate), PSS) and a crosslinked polymeric matrix (PVA-C). Considering the mechanical strength and flexibility of the resulting films, the PPy-PVA-C s-IPN was found to be the best one. Electropolymerization conditions were optimized by varying the concentrations of monomer and electrolytes and in some cases the solvent. Surface morphology (by SEM), thermal stability (through DSC and TGA) and electrical conductivity at different temperatures were studied and the s-IPN was found to possess improved electrical, thermal and environmental stability as compared to the pure PPy film.