A new conducting nanocomposite—PPy-zirconium (IV) oxide

Pyrrole was polymerized in the presence of ultrafine zirconium (IV) oxide (ZrO2) particles which act as a dispersant for pyrrole. Room temperature conductivities of the resulting polypyrrole-zirconium (IV) oxide nanocomposites having different ZrO2 particle concentrations were measured and were compared with that of bare polypyrrole. It was observed that the conductivities of the nanocomposites were higher than that of the polypyrrole without ZrO2 and increased with ZrO2 concentration up to a certain limit. From transmission electron microscope studies, particle size and morphology of the nanocomposites and ZrO2 particles were obtained.