title: Synthesis and characterization of conductive core-shell polyacrylonitrile-polypyrrole nanofibers.
abstract: Nonwoven polyacrylonitrile-polypyrrole (PAN-PPy) core-shell nanofiber mats were prepared through the growth of PPy layers on electrospun PAN nanofibers via a two-step vapor-phase polymerization, i.e., the wet-coating of ferric tosylate (FeTos) oxidants on PAN nanofibers followed by exposure to pyrrole monomers in the gas phase. Under the conditions ([FeTos] = 10 wt%, reaction time = 15 min, temperature = 15 degrees C), the PPy polymerization procedure led to both a uniform coating over the PAN surface with an average thickness of 18 nm and cross-linkages among the nanofibers without a noticeable change in the highly porous nanofibrous structures. The oxidant concentration and polymerization time were found to be key parameters for achieving a good nanostructured core-shell fiber mat. FT-IR, XPS, XRD and conductivity measurements confirmed the synthesis of Tos-doped PPy with some degree of crystallinity and a high conductivity.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bionano Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Sun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Tuan-Anh
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Yongju
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Yong Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim