Polypyrrole fabricated Laponite RD conductive nanocomposites: influence of grafting efficiency on structural and conductive properties.

In the present work novel conductive organic-inorganic nanocomposites were produced by grafting of pyrrole monomer onto silanized Laponite RD utilizing emulsion graft polymerization. Influence of some important factors like concentration of monomer, initiator and surfactant were investigated on grafting efficiency. Grafting of polypyrrole chains onto modified Laponite RD was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the spherical particles of nanocomposite with average diameter of 271.5 nm. XRD pattern showed that molecular framework of pure polypyrrole almost remains same in nanocomposite. Surface area and pore volume of Laponite RD, measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, was also altered indicating effective grafting of polypyrrole chains onto modified substrate. Maximum grafting efficiency (%), determined gravimetrically, was 87.3% at monomer, initiator, and surfactant concentrations of 1.50, 1.00, and 0.50% respectively. Prepared nanocomposites with grafting efficiency of 87.3% have displayed maximum electrical conductivity of 0.23 × 10(-2) Scm(-1). These nanocomposites can be used for manifold applications like biomedical and energy storage devices.