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. 2007 Apr;157(6-7):282-289.
doi: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2007.03.004.

Controlling the Dimensions of Carbon Nanofiber Structures through the Electropolymerization of Pyrrole

Benjamin L Fletcher  1 , Timothy E McKnight, Jason D Fowlkes, David P Allison, Michael L Simpson, Mitchel J Doktycz
Affiliations

Controlling the Dimensions of Carbon Nanofiber Structures through the Electropolymerization of Pyrrole

Benjamin L Fletcher et al. Synth Met. 2007 Apr.

Abstract

Electrically conductive polymers, such as polypyrrole (PPy), show promise for modifying the dimensions and properties of micro- and nanoscale structures. Mechanisms for controlling the formation of PPy films of nanoscale thickness were evaluated by electrochemically synthesizing and examining PPy films on planar gold electrodes under a variety of growth conditions. Tunable PPy coatings were then deposited by electropolymerization on the sidewalls of individual, electrically addressable carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The ability to modify the physical size of specific nanofibers in controllable fashion is demonstrated. The biocompatibility, potential for chemical functionalization, and ability to effect volume changes of this nanocomposite can lead to advanced functionality, such as specific, nanoscale valving of materials and morphological control at the nanoscale.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Planar PPy film thickness versus A) polymerization time, B) monomer concentration, and C) applied bias. Data points in A) represent measurements from two separate PPy films, sample 1 (○) and sample 2 (▲). Data points in B) were from samples polymerized for 45 s (○) and 15 s (▲). A second order polynomial trend line was fitted to the data in C).
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM images of CNFs selectively modified by electropolymerization of PPy. A) The electrical lead labeled 1 has not been polymerized. Leads 2 – 5 are progressively darker due to the presence of increasingly thick PPy coatings. B) A close up of CNFs modified by PPy. The surrounding SiO2 substrate and CNFs are unpolymerized. C) CNFs on an electrical lead, prior to polymerization and D) after. The surrounding SiO2 substrate and CNFs are unmodified by the PPy deposition.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM images of electrically addressed CNF electrodes before polymerization of pyrrole (A, B) and after (C, D). A deposition of 75 s was performed on the nanofibers depicted in A before collecting the image shown in C. A deposition of 115 s was performed on the nanofibers depicted in B to yield the result shown in D.
Figure 4
Figure 4
PPy film thicknesses measured on individual CNF electrodes as a function of polymerization time. The data points represent measurements of individual CNFs grown on a single, common electrode.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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