Properties of polypyrrole prepared by chemical polymerization using aqueous solution containing Fe2(SO4)3 and anionic surfactant

This study deals with polypyrrole (PPy) prepared with an aqueous solution. The combinations of Fe2(SO4)3 as an oxidant and anionic surfactants, such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate and sodium alkylsulfonate, brought about enhanced conductivity as well as increased yield of the resultant PPy. These phenomena resulted from the large-sized surfactant anions being predominantly incorporated into the PPy backbone. Furthermore, the addition of surfactants accelerated the polymerization reactions. This seemed to derive from an insoluble product temporarily being formed from Fe2(SO4)3 and the surfactant functions being innumerable initial points of the polymerization reactions. PPy prepared with surfactants also showed high thermal and moisture stabilities in air at 125 °C, and at 85 °C and 85% RH.