How to Prepare Polypyrrole/Tungsten Disulfide Nanocomposite?

Nanocomposite of polypyrrole and tungsten disulfide can be prepared by inserting polypyrrole into tungsten disulfide layers. Usually, the peeling-recomposition technology and monomer intercalation method are applied in this simple preparation method.

The peeling-recomposition technology involves three steps: monolayer peeling, polymer solution direct intercalation and recomposition. Pyrrole monomer is added to monolayer tungsten disulfide suspension, and then oxidant FeCl₃ is added into the mixture to prepare nanocomposite of polypyrrole and tungsten disulfide by  in-situ polymerization.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The following are the preparation steps of polypyrrole/tungsten disulfide nanocomposite.

Step One: Tungsten disulfide monolayer peeling.

Li_xWS₂ intercalation compounds can be prepared by the reaction of tungsten disulfide with n-BuLi under certain conditions. The 0.4 g (1.61x 10^-3 mol) precursor Li_XWS₂ is reacted with 1000 mL distilled water under the condition of ultrasonic oscillation, so as to obtain tungsten disulfide monolayer suspension with pH 7. The reaction process is accompanied by a large amount of hydrogen emission.

Step Two: 50 mL pyrrole solution is added to monolayer tungsten disulfide suspension. The solution is a mixed solvent of ethanol and water (the volume ratio is 1:1), containing 2.02x10^-4 mol-1.21x10^-3 mol pyrrole.

Step Three: The two aqueous solutions are stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. And then a certain volume of FeCl₃ solution, a mixed solvent of ethanol and water with volume ratio of 1:1, is slowly added to the solution. To ensure the complete reaction, the mixed solution can be stirred continuously at a certain temperature for 12 hours.

Step Four: Solid product is separated centrifugally with rotating speed of 2000 rpm and washed repeatedly with a small amount of NMF to remove the residual polypyrrole (PPy). And then the product is washed repeatedly with a small amount of distilled water to remove NMF, LiOH, FeCl₂, FeCl₃ and other soluble substances. The washing process is carried out in the fume hood. The obtained material is dried for 36 hours in a vacuum drying oven at 60°C.

• < Prev
• Next >