Coaxial conducting polymer nanotubes: polypyrrole nanotubes coated with polyaniline or poly(p-phenylenediamine) and products of their carbonisation
Abstract
Polypyrrole nanotubes were prepared by the oxidation of pyrrole with iron(III) chloride in a reaction mixture containing methyl orange. They were subsequently coated with polyaniline or poly(p-phenylenediamine) in situ during the oxidation of respective monomers in their presence.
A part of the coaxial nanotubes was deprotonated using ammonia solution. The conductivity of polypyrrole nanotubes of 60 S cm(-1), was reduced after the coating, and again after the deprotonation, but maintained at a level above 10(-4) S cm(-1).
Infrared and Raman spectra reflect the presence of the polymer overlayer deposited on the polypyrrole template. Thermogravimetric analysis was used as a tool for the analytical carbonisation of samples in an inert nitrogen atmosphere.
The conversion of conducting polymers to nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes was confirmed using Raman spectra.