Preparation of highly conducting and spin-probed polypyrroles using coupled electrochemical-chemical synthesis in the presence of nitroxyl radicals

Summary

A new method for the synthesis of conducting polypyrroles (PPy), based on chemical and combined electrochemical-chemical oxidation of pyrrole monomers in the presence of nitroxyl radical (TEMPOL-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxy-1-oxy-piperidyl) as oxidation agent (in its oxidation state) and redox mediator respectively is described. The PPy films obtained are extremely porous and the electrical conductivity (σ) of the resulting PPy samples ranges from 1 to 100 S cm⁻¹. PPy prepared in aqueous solutions has a lower conductivity σ∽1 S cm⁻¹ as compared to the PPy prepared in acetonitrile solutions with conductivity of about 100 S cm⁻¹. The PPy films are quite compact and thick films (1 mm) can be pealed off from the electrode surface and pressed as a disc for further studies. Only after partial reduction of polypyrrole film the spin-probed PPy was obtained. The concentration of nitroxyl radicals incorporated in the polymer matrix can be changed using various degrees of polymer reduction. The anisotropic broadening of the observed ESR lines indicates a low mobility of incorporated nitroxyl radicals in the PPy matrix. The electronic interaction between the nitroxyl groups and the paramagnetic centers of the polymer chains, polarons, causes an ESR line broadening of polaron signal both on air (1.1 mT) and in vacuum (0.7 mT) as compared to unmodified PPy (0.2 mT on air, 0.05 mT in vacuum).