In situ formed processable polypyrrole nanoparticle/amphiphilic elastomer composites and their properties

A lack of processability is one of the major problems associated with practical applications of conductive and electroactive polypyrrole. Polypyrrole nanoparticles that were sterically stabilized in a solution and supported by an amphiphilic elastomer of poly(ethylene glycol) (M_n 2000 g mol^-1)/poly(tetramethylene ether glycol (M_n 2000 g mol^-1) multiblock copolymer, were investigated in terms of conductivity, process-ability and mechanical properties. The hydrogel, amphiphilic elastomer was soluble in various organic solvents such as methanol, acetone and ethanol, but only swellable in water. The synthetic conditions of polypyrrole nanoparticles in the presence of the multiblock copolymer were optimized. The conductivity of polypyrrole film formed from the nanoparticle suspension was measured with the van der Pauw four-probe method and reached as high as 3.0 ± 0.2 S cm^-1. The film also showed elastomeric properties, which were influenced by the amount of multiblock copolymer added during nanoparticle synthesis.