POLYPYRROLE-POLY(HEPTAMETHYLENE P,P'-BIBENZOATE) CONDUCTING MATERIALS - SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION

Polypyrrole-poly(heptamethylene p,p'-bibenzoate) conducting materials, PPy-P7MB/ClO4, were obtained by anodic coupling of pyrrole into a polybibenzoate inert matrix, using perchlorate anions as dopant agent. P7MB is a main-chain liquid crystalline polybibenzoate with adequate mechanical properties and elastic modulus of 1.4 GPa at room temperature. The method of synthesis, galvanostatic or potentiostatic electrodeposition, is responsible for differences in the PPy-P7MB/ClO4, films electrochemical response. FTIR spectra show the complex structures of P7MB and the composite conducting material. The conductivity of PPy-P7MB/ClO4 films maintains a relatively high value, sigma = 13.74 S cm(-1), in spite of the insulating effect of polybibenzoate. Film micrographs reveal the typical cauliflower morphology exhibited by polypyrrole and the evolution of film growth with time.