Preparation of the conducting nanocomposites using molded inorganic matrix: fibrous cerium(iv) hydrogenphosphate as a self-supported pyrrolepolymerization agent

Abstract

New supported polypyrrole nanocomposites have been prepared and studied in this work. Self-supported sheets of fibrous cerium(IV) hydrogenphosphate (CeP_f) were used as the inorganic matrix, since the fibrous morphology presented by this material makes molding possible, giving a desired shape to the final polypyrrole/CeP_f conducting nanocomposites. The influence of pyrrole concentration on the nanocomposite preparation was studied, as well as the influence of CeP_f on the polypyrrole characteristics. XRD, Raman, SEM and conductivity measurement data show the conducting polypyrrole coating CeP_f fibers, yielding self-supported sheets of organic–inorganic conducting nanocomposites.