Unveiling the Influence of Metal Oxides on Multifaceted Polypyrrole Nanocomposite Properties

Abstract

The addition of metals or metal oxides (MOs) into polypyrrole (PPy) could facilitate the effective incorporation of the features of a parent component into novel nanocomposites. As such, this present study used in-situ ultrasonic-assisted chemical oxidative polymerisation (in-situ UA-COP) to synthesise MO-PPy nanocomposites using titanium dioxide (TiO₂), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silicone dioxide (SiO₂). The impact of MOs on the structural, morphological, thermal and electrical characteristics of the fabricated nanocomposites was then methodically analysed. The nanocomposites’ structural and chemical constitutions were ascertained by way of X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The MOs were incorporated via non-covalent bonds into the PPy matrix, without significantly affecting the PPy matrix. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses demonstrated that TiO₂-PPy was the most thermally stable, rending it is ideal for use in reactions that require high resistance to temperature. It also had the highest electrical conductivity (2.48 S/cm), which could be attributed to the conductive channels that the MO nanoparticle interconnections formed within the polymer matrix. This in-depth investigation serves to disclose the effect of different MOs on the characteristics of PPy nanocomposites. The findings of this present study also highlight the potential applications of the produced PPy nanocomposites in different fields, especially for use in sensors.