Facile and efficient route for preparation of polypyrrole-ZnO nanocomposites: Microstructural, optical, and charge transport properties

Polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites reinforced with zinc oxide (ZnONPs) nanoparticles are fabricated by spin coating method. The polymer nanocomposite films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-vis spectroscopy and two probe technique. The results were compared with PPy film. Powder XRD analysis demonstrates the crystalline structure of ZnO nanostructures, as well as their corresponding nanocomposites. The SEM images of the nanocomposites show uniform distribution of the ZnO NPs in the PPy matrix. The overall grain size was found to change in nanocomposite films. In the FTIR spectra, the characteristic peaks of pure PPy are observed to shift to higher wave number revels the different interfacial interactions between the ZnO NPs and the PPy matrix. In the UV-vis spectra, absorption peak of PPy shifts to lower wavelengths indicating poor conjugation. The electrical resistivity of PPy-ZnO nanocomposites is observed to depend strongly on the particle loadings and the morphology. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012