Facile template-free electrochemical preparation of poly[N-(2-cyanoethyl)pyrrole] nanowires

In this paper the first synthesis of poly[N-(2-cyanoethyl)pyrrole] (PPyEtCN) in a nanowire morphology is reported. The method employed is a facile, one step electrochemical growth, which does not require the use of any templates or surfactants. Using optimised conditions the nanowires nucleate to give a homogeneous film across the electrode surface, with lengths of approximately 2 μm and diameters of approximately 150 nm. Structural information on the nanowires was obtained using vibrational spectroscopy. Evidence is presented to support an instantaneous 3-D nucleation and growth mechanism for the nanowires.

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► This is the first report of Poly[N-(2-cyanoethyl)pyrrole] electropolymerised in the nanowire morphology.
► A one step potentiostatic method was developed which did not employ any templates or surfactants.
► SEM and TEM show the wires have diameters approximately 150 nm with lengths of 2 µm.
► Raman and FTIR spectroscopy confirm the presence of the cyano functional group.