Influence of dopant anions on properties of polypyrrole nanocoated poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid) particles

Nanostructures of polypyrrole (PPy) were synthesized on poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid) particles with iron (III) p-toluensulfonate hexahydrate (FeTS), sodium p-toluensulfonate (NaTS), 5-sulfosalicylic acid dihydrate (SSA), iron(III) chloride hexahydrate or p-toluensulfonic acid (TSA) as dopants. A doping level between 0.25 and 0.29 in all samples was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). FTIR analysis shows the effective covering of core samples and that no degradation of PPy has taken place. Conductivity decay study establishes that aromatic sulfonic acid anions provide better performance to the conducting polymer when are present as the only dopants. The chloride anions have a detrimental effect over conductivity and stability of the PPy shell.

► Nanostructures of PPy with different dopants on poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid) particles.
► Doping level between 0.25 and 0.29 in all samples.
► High conductivity of 8.6 S cm−1 was achieved with FeTS dopant.
► Slow degradation of PPy when trapped in the latex surfaces (τ = 1300 days).