Synthesis and Characterization of Conducting Polypyrrole Prepared by Chemical Oxidative Polymerization

Abstract Conducting polymers have attracted significant attention due to their unique combination of electrical conductivity and polymeric properties such as flexibility, lightweight nature, and corrosion resistance [1]. Among these materials, polypyrrole (PPy) is one of the most extensively studied conducting polymers because of its ease of synthesis, environmental stability, and tuneable electrical properties [2, 3]. In the present work, polypyrrole was synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization using ferric chloride (FeCl3) as an oxidizing agent. The synthesized polymer was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Electrical properties were investigated using the two-probe method. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of polypyrrole through characteristic vibrational bands corresponding to C–N, C–H, C=C, and N–H bonds. UV–Visible spectroscopy revealed absorption peaks associated with π–π* transitions, indicating the presence of conjugated structures. SEM images showed a globular morphology with closely packed granular structures. The electrical conductivity of the synthesized polypyrrole was calculated to be 1.42×10−3S cm⁻¹, confirming its semiconducting nature. These results demonstrate that chemically synthesized polypyrrole exhibits promising structural and electrical characteristics suitable for applications in sensors, corrosion protection, and electronic devices.