Synthesis, characterization, and properties of conducting polypyrrole/Na-montmorillonite nanocomposites

Polypyrrole/Na-montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared by oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in aqueous medium using ammonium peroxydisulfate as the oxidant. The synthesized nanocomposites were confirmed by a series of characterization techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy images showed that the polypyrrole was intercalated into the clay layers. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis revealed the improved thermal stability of nanocomposites with respect to pure polypyrrole due to modification of the incorporated Na-montmorillonite. Furthermore; adsorptive properties, the moisture retains, and water uptake values of nanocomposites were investigated. Conductivity behaviour of nanocomposites was also studied. The nanocomposites exhibit the room temperature conductivities varied from 1.2 x 10(-8) S cm(-1) to 8.7 x 10(-8) S cm(-1) range, depending on the amount of polypyrrole.