Polypyrrole Nanostructures Self-Assembled in Magnetic Ionic Liquid as a Template

Nanostructured conducting polypyrrole and poly(N-methylpyrrole) were successfully synthesized by simply adding monomers into a magnetic ionic liquid, bmim[FeCl4]. In this process, self-organized conducting polymer nanostructures such as particles and tubes were formed without and with magnetic field. The shape of polypyrrole nanoparticles synthesized at room temperature was almost spherical with their size ranging around 60 nm with a relatively narrow size distribution. The conductivity of pelletized particles was 101−2 S/cm. From the N-methylpyrrole monomer, more attractive nanostructured polymers were obtained. Tubes with nanoscaled inner holes and walls were synthesized using a self-assembly process for the first time. The self-assembled local structures in the solvent ionic liquid are likely to serve as templates of highly organized nanostructured polymers. External magnetic field seems to affect these local structures and hence the resultant polymer nanostructures. This research provides a new method to synthesize various nanosized conducting polymeric materials via simple self-assembly.