Self-assembled conducting polypyrrole micro/nanotubes

Abstract

Self-assembled polypyrrole (PPy) micro/nanotubes, whose diameters and room temperature conductivities were within the ranges of 50–2000 nm and 2–40 S cm−1 respectively, were successfully synthesized by a chemical and electrochemical method in the presence of β-naphthalene sulfonic acid or p-toluenesulfonate acid as the dopant. By changing the polymerization method and conditions as well as dopant structures, one can control the morphology, size and electrical properties of the doped PPy. It was proposed that dopant micelles or pyrrole/dopant clusters act as templates in the formation of the micro/nanotubes.