title: Synthesis and properties of plasma-polymerized polypyrrole/Au composite nanofibers.
abstract: Nanostructured composites have a wide variety of potential applications in microelectronics, chemical sensors, and electrochemical energy production. Here, we report the chemical, structural, and electrochemical characteristics of a nanostructured composite material formed from plasma-polymerized polypyrrole-coated Au fibers. The properties of the plasma-polymerized polypyrrole (PPPy) films were characterized by FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-Vis spectroscopy, as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These spectroscopy analyses suggest that thermal treatment of the materials results in elimination of loosely-bound, low mass oligomers in the films. Mass spectral analysis of the plasma phase suggests that plasma polymerization of the pyrrole takes place on the substrate surface as a result of diffusion of radicals produced in the plasma. In addition, thermal treatment enhances the electrochemical properties of the PPPy films because of changes in the surface morphology and bulk structure of the films. However, as-deposited PPPy films coated on Au nanotubes demonstrate better electrochemical properties than as-deposited PPPy films coated on flat ITO electrodes as a result of the increase in surface area and decrease in film thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ellen R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D011108:Polymers; D011758:Pyrroles; C067635:polypyrrole; D006046:Gold