Electrochemical and semiconducting properties of multifunctional smart conductive fabrics based on polypyrrole

Abstract

We have fabricated multifunctional conductive fabrics composed of polypyrrole/BaTiO₃/poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐methylacrylate) (PPy/BaTiO₃/P(AN‐co‐MA)(PBA) utilizing a simple process including dip coating and in situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole, which oxidized both ammonium persulfate (APS) and ammonium persulfate + iron (III) chloride (APS + FeCl₃) for flexible and wearable textile applications. The influence of the oxidant nature, PPy content, and BaTiO₃ on the surface structures, electrochemical, and semiconducting characteristics of the fabrics was examined using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the Mott–Schottky (M–S) studies. The study revealed that the size of the polymer nanostructures on fabric has an impact on the electrochemical impedance properties. Specifically, a decrease in diameter (when FeCl₃ + APS is used) or the formation of more compact swelling surface structures (when only APS is used) is associated with changes in the conductivity of the coated fabric. Based on the EIS tests, the composite coating (S0.1, S0.2, and S0.3) with FeCl₃ has a higher electrical conductivity compared to the coating with APS (PBA). The M–S tests indicate that the semiconducting characteristics of coated fabrics are dependent upon the kind of oxidant, the amount of PPy, and the presence of BaTiO₃.