Electrochemical Polymerization of Polypyrrole Nanotubes and Nanowires in Ionic Liquid

Abstract

Polypyrrole (PPy) nanotubes and nanowires were synthesized through electrochemical polymerization method in nanoporous anodisc aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) template. The electrolyte consisted of pyrrole monomer, solvent, and ionic liquid dopant such as BMIMBF 4 (1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate) or BMIMPF 6 (1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate), which is stable in air and moisture. The length and diameter of PPy nanotubes and nanowires were determined by the synthetic conditions such as polymerization time, current, and dopant. The formation of nanotube and nanowire of PPy sample was confirmed by using field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The UV=Vis and Raman spectra have been investigated for structural properties of the systems. We compare electrical properties of nano size PPy materials with bulky PPy ones prepared in the same chemical conditions.

Conducting Polymers with Fibrillar Morphology Synthesized in a Biphasic Ionic Liquid/Water System

“…Ionic liquids are a relatively new class of solvent, composed entirely of ions, whose advantageous physical properties can include nonflammability and negligible vapor pressure, which avoids the long-term problems of solvent evaporation from electrochemical devices. , Ionic liquids can significantly improve performance and lifetimes when used as the supporting electrolyte in conducting polymers devices, , and the potential benefits of using ionic liquids as the growth media for conducting polymers are attracting increasing interest. − Ionic liquids are ideal media for the synthesis and utilization of conducting polymers as they can exhibit excellent oxidative and reductive stability, which allows access to potentials previously prohibited by the smaller electrochemical window of molecular solvent/electrolyte systems. Further, ionic liquids have been shown to dissolve a wide range of organic and inorganic materials, which allows access to a range of monomers and chemical oxidants at significant concentrations, some of which are either insoluble in, or outside the electrochemical stability of, molecular solvents.…”

Solution−Surface Electropolymerization: A Route to Morphologically Novel Poly(pyrrole) Using an Ionic Liquid

“…Ionic liquids are a relatively new class of solvent, composed entirely of ions, whose advantageous physical properties can in some cases include negligible vapor pressure, nonflammability, and good electrochemical stability. − The use of ionic liquids as the supporting electrolyte for conducting polymers has been shown to be extremely beneficial to performance and device lifetimes, , and studies have more recently focused on the potential benefits of using ionic liquids as the growth media for conducting polymers. − We have previously observed significant morphological differences between poly(pyrrole) films grown onto a stainless steel working electrode from ionic liquids compared to those grown in conventional molecular solvent/electrolyte systems . However, if the electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole in the ionic liquid is performed using a platinum wire as the working electrode, the polymer forms an initial layer on the section of working electrode that is submerged into the monomer/ionic liquid solution, but then grows along the surface of the ionic liquid.…”

Electrochemomechanical Devices: Artificial Muscles

“…This results in extra stiffness and possible peeling and the rate is not increased; see Section 12.5.4.2. To overcome a possible low ionic conductivity of the electrolyte, ionic liquids [188,246,[249][250][251][252][253][254][255][256][257] are being proposed as electrolytes. The results point to extended lifetimes probably related to a dry ambient condition, but without an increase in rates.…”