Synthesis of coral-like silver chloride-polypyrrole nanocomposites derived from silver nanoparticles and the study of their structural, thermal, optical, and electrical properties

Abstract EN

In this research, we developed a facile method for the synthesis of silver chloride: polypyrrole (AgCl: PPy) nanocomposites with enhanced structural, thermal, optical, and conducting properties.

polypyrrole monomer was in-situ doped with varying weight percentages of as-synthesized Ag nanoparticles by following simple chemical oxidation polymerization technique to form AgCl: PPy nanocomposites.

the AgCl nanostructures with tree-like coral morphology are distributed uniformly into the PPy matrix without any segregation.

the fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results reveal the successful incorporation of AgCl in the organic structure of PPy.

X-ray diffraction analysis shows the formation of AgCl nanostructures in the PPy matrix during the chemical polymerization process that increases the crystallinity of amorphous PPy.

the TGA analysis demonstrates the improved thermal stability of PPy nanocomposites due to the development of physiochemical interactions between the AgCl and PPy moities, this is also inferred from fourier transform infrared results.

it is noted that the electrical conductivity of AgCl: PPy nanocomposites is significantly controlled by the weight percentage of dispersed Ag nanoparticles in the polymerization assembly.

the highest conductivity (1335 S cm-1) of PPy nanocomposite is attributed to the decrease in particle size, shortening of the PPy chain length, and lower bandgap energy presented at the critical weight percentage of Ag nanoparticles.