Synthesis, Characterization and Electrical Conductivity Measurements of Polypyrrole/ Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Abstract

The effects of varying weight percentage ratio of polypyrrole /montmorillonite clay (PPy/MMT) on the DC and AC conductivities are reported. The PPy/MMT nanocomposites were characterized by using the X-ray diffraction, FTIR and SEM techniques. The presence of sharp peaks is observed in the XRD spectra of PPy/MMT composites which suggest the development of more polycrystalline structure. The sharp peaks observed in the XRD spectra of for pure MMT clay is found to be shifting to lower angle with decreasing MMT clay percentages in the PPy. The slight shifting of the peaks confirms that the PPy chains are intercalating into the MMT clay layers. The interplanar spacing (d-spacing) for various composites has been calculated and reported. The successful incorporation of montmorillonite clay in the prepared PPy/MMT clay composites is confirmed by the FTIR spectra. The SEM micrographs exhibit a dense and more ordered structure of PPy/MMT composites. The DC conductivity is initially found to increase in the range 0 to 1% of MMT and thereby, it decreases upto 10 % MMT. The increasing conductivity is again observed from 10 to 15 % of MMT beyond which the conductivity decreases upto 25% of MMT. The AC conductivity of the PPy/MMT nanocompsites has also been measured in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The AC conductivity is found to be almost constant upto 104 Hz and it is found to rise rapidly thereafter. The variation of conductivity has been explained on the basis of formation of layered structures.