Structural Analysis of Conductive Polypyrroles Synthesized in an Ionic Liquid

Nano-structured conducting polypyrroles were synthesized in the ionic liquids (ILs) based on 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium family with tetrachloroferrate as an anion ($C_n\;mim\;[FeCl_4]\;with\;n\;=\;4,\;8,\;and\;12$). The polypyrrole nanostructures synthesized in ILs were formed as spherical shapes. For ionic liquids with alkyl side chain length $C_4,\;C_4\;mim\;[FeCl_4]$, the size of particles was ranged around 60-nm with a relatively narrow size distribution. As the length of alkyl chain increases, the particle sizes become larger and their distributions become wider. The self-assembled local structures in the solvent ionic liquids are likely to serve as templates of highly organized nano-structured polymers. The length of the alkyl chain in ionic liquids seems to affect these local structures.