Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.68, No.5, 709-713, 1998
Transport properties in polypyrrole powders and in PPy-PVA composites : Evidence for bipolaronic clusters
Experimental results on electrical conductivity of both doped polypyrrole (PPy) powder and conducting poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-PPy composite are presented. In each case, FeCl3 has been used as the oxidizing-polymerizing agent. Results are interpreted on the basis of a model in which counter-ions act through their attractive potential by forming conducting ways between chains and allowing transverse conduction. In the case of PPy powder, the major contribution to conduction mechanisms is hopping between polaronic clusters. In the case of the composite, an additional contribution results from fluctuation-induced tunneling through thin insulating PVA barriers.