.4 Polypyrrole: Current Applications and Future Challenges

Structure of Polypyrrole
.4 Polypyrrole
Among the conducting polymers known to date, ones based upon Polypyrrole (PPy) (Figure )
have attracted special interest because of their high conductivity, their ease and high
flexibility in preparation, their stability and good mechanical properties.
Figure
The attractiveness of the polypyrrole systems stems from several factors. Although initially
the most important factor was undoubtedly the chemical and thermal stability of these
polymers relative to (SN) and (CH) the ease of preparing was also appealing. As was first
reported by Italian chemists, pyrrole monomer is very readily polymerized to give a black
conducting powder [122].
This chemistry is particularly facile, taking place with a large number of oxidizing agents,
and can even be observed taking on the outside of pyrrole down which the monomer has been
allowed to flow. The resulting conducting powder have been referred to as pyrrole black for
many years. The polymerization can take place electrochemically [123] as well as
chemically.
Current Applications and Future Challenges
Current Applications and

Future Challenges
The new devices made of conducting polymers are going to be used in every phase of life on
earth, as well as in space. Compared to other existing technologies, conducting polymers are
lightweight, take up less space, and are less expensive to manufacture. They are also flexible,
and in many cases unbreakable. These characteristics make them excellent for use in space
vehicles, for human or robotic exploration and satellites. For example, the flexible and
lightweight nature of these devices would be suitable to introduce built-in computers in space
suits, with associated
sensors to monitor the health of astronauts while they perform extra-vehicular activities.
These devices could also be beneficial for tele-medicine in space due to their flexible nature
that can follow the contours of the body. Conducting Polymer actuators are also being
explored to be used in micro-robots, for un-manned space missions utilizing micro-satellites.
To further qualify these devices for use in the harsh environment of space, more testing is
needed to determine reliability, with regard to ionizing radiation, solar UV, and extreme
temperatures. Apart of the use of conducting polymers in the light weight and rechargeable
batteries [300], solid state batteries [301,302] and in light emitting diodes, conducting
polymers are expected to find places in molecular electronics. Recently, Hudak presented
report on quantitative evaluation of conducting polymers (polypyrrole and polythiophene) as
active materials for the positive electrode in rechargeable aluminium batteries operating at
room temperature [303]. Prakash Sengodu et al. reviewed recent advances in synthetic
methods and functions of conducting polymer in hybrid composites and their application in
lithium ion batteries [304]. Conjugated polymers in the nondoped and doped conducting state
have an array of potential applications in the microelectronics industry. Conducting polymers
are effective discharge layers as well as conducting resists in electron beam lithography, find
applications in metallization (electrolytic and electroless) of plated through-holes for printed
circuit board technology, provide excellent electrostatic discharge protection for packages
and housings of electronic equipment, provide excellent corrosion protection for metals, and
may have applications in electromagnetic interference shielding [305]. Wu et al. developed
ultralight, high-performance electromagnetic interference(EMI shielding graphene foam
(GF)/poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composites
[306]. Intrinsically conducting polymers, especially PANI and PPY, are most promising
alternative candidates for EMI shielding due to their lightweight, which is of critical
importance in aerospace applications, corrosion resistance, ease of processing, and tunable
conductivities [307]. The chemical properties of conducting polymers make them very useful
in sensors [308]. A large number of gas sensors use conducting polymers (CPs) because they
offer great design flexibility [309, 310]. They can form selective layers in which the
interaction between the analyte gas and the conducting matrix generates the primary change
of a physical parameter in the transduction mechanism. Jiri Janata et al. recently discussed
that sensors based on chemical modulation of electronic properties of CPs resulting from
their interaction with gases and concluded that the ‘tunability’ is an important bonus of CPs
that aids the preparation of a variety of sensing layers but it can be troublesome where
performance independent of ambient factors is desired [308]. There are few recent reviews
which deal with fundamental and technological incentive for ICP composite sensors and the
sensing properties [311–313] Highly intimate contact between an electrode and a living
neuron is strongly desired by both basic neuroscientists and engineers seeking to develop
more effective neural prostheses.
Conducting polymer coatings have been proposed a way to improve the intimacy of the cell-
electrode connection. A nanostructured “fuzzy” polymer coat increases electrode surface
area, lowering the electrical impedance [314]. Polymer coatings can also contain
biomolecules to attract neurons and promote their adherence to the electrode [315]. It has
been found that conducting polymer poly-(3-(2-ethylhexyl)-thiopene) (EHPT) is able to
significantly increase the current across a lipid bilayer [316]. N.K. Guimard et al. presented a
demonstration on the significant impact of conducting polymers in the biomedical field [317].
Conducting polymer nanostructures have received increasing attention in both fundamental
research and various application fields in recent decades. In the past decade, conducting
polymers nanostructures have become a rapidly growing field of research, because they
display new properties related to their nanoscale size and have greatly improved the
performance of devices [318-324]. Since most conductive polymers require oxidative doping,
the properties of the resulting state are crucial. Such materials are salt-like (polymer salt),
which diminishes their solubility in organic solvents and water and hence their processability.
Furthermore, the charged organic backbone is often unstable towards atmospheric moisture.
Compared to metals, organic conductors can be expensive requiring multi-step synthesis. The
poor processability for many polymers requires the introduction of solubilizing or
substituents, which can further complicate the synthesis. One of the major problems with
conducting polymers is the non- processibility by solvent or multitechniques. Most of them
are insoluble in common solvents and undergo degradation before reaching the melting point.
Also they have poor mechanical strength and are environmentally unstable. Many researchers
have succeeded in overcoming these problems [325-327] and are generating polymer
composites and blends which can show better stability and mechanical strength [328,329].
Factors driving market growth include increasing acceptance of conductive polymers in
automobile and diesel sectors, and growing demand for high-performance, lightweight, and
low cost materials for electrical and electronics product components and devices. Much
research will be needed before many of the above applications become a reality. The stability
and processibilty both need to be substantially improved if these polymers are to be used in
the market place. Challenges arise due to the sensitivity of the polymers to variations in their
fabrication, time and temperature dependent effects, and nonlinearity of their coupled
mechanical, physical and chemical properties. It is also of importance that conducting
polymers perform their functions in dynamic environments over a wide range of temperatures
and frequencies. Besides the experimental investigations required to address the outlined
problem areas, there is a need to advance computational material science of conducting
polymers. It is important in this regard that modelling and simulation are treated as an
integral part of design and manufacturing processes

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Structure of Polypyrrole

Current Applications and Future Challenges

Current Applications and

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