Conducting polymer composites of polypyrrole and a poly(arylene ether ketone)

Abstract

Electrically conducting composites of polypyrrole and a poly(arylene ether ketone) were synthesized by electroinitiated polymerization of pyrrole on a poly(arylene ether ketone)-coated platinum electrode. The electrolysis medium was water and p-toluene sulfonic acid. The conductivities of the composites were in the range 1-10 S/cm. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and thermal analyses. The composites were found to be composed of bilayers which can be peeled into two free-standing polymer films. The solution side of the polypyrrole layer of the alloy film contains globular structures, whereas the other side is smoother.