Preparation and evaluation of a nanocomposite of polythiophene with Al2O3

The polymerization of thiophene (TP), in bulk and in solution in CHCl3 by FeCl3 resulted in the formation of a polymer which was characterized by FTIR as polythiophene (PTP). High yield was realized in the latter case. The polymerization of TP with FeCl3 and nanodimensional AI,03 resulted in the formation of a nanocomposite which was partly dispersible in aqueous and non-aqueous media. The dispersibility appeared to be higher when the polymerization was conducted in a suspension containing a higher amount of Al2O3. Scanning electron micrographs showed globular particles and the presence of clusters of composite particles. Transmission electron micrographic (TEM) analyses revealed the particle size of the composite to be in the range 22-74nm. Thermal analyses (TG/DTA) revealed the outstanding stability of PTP-Al2O3 composites compared to that of PTP. The conductivity of PTP and of PTP-Al2O3 composite was of the order of 10(-3)Scm(-1) for samples doped with I-2. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.