Synthesis, characterization, and electrical properties of polypyrrole–bimetallic oxide composites

ABSTRACT In this study, polypyrrole (PPy) and its bimetallic oxide composites (PPy–V 2 O 5 –MnO 2 ) were synthesized via a modified chemical oxidation polymerization method in the aqueous medium with FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O as an oxidant. The synthesized materials were characterized with various analytical techniques to investigate their structural, crystallographic, thermal, morphological, optical, and electrical properties. The Fourier transform infrared study confirmed the successful synthesis of the materials, whereas the X‐ray diffraction analyses showed the amorphous and crystalline natures of the PPy and PPy–V 2 O 5 –MnO 2 composites, respectively. The bimetallic oxide content improved the thermal stability of the composites, as ratified by thermal analysis. The synthesized PPy had a globular and spongy nature, whereas the composites were mixtures of short and long rod‐shaped particles. The bimetallic oxide blend enhanced the doping, surface area and semiconducting nature of composites, and lower electrical resistance compared with those of the PPy. The resistance of the synthesized materials depended on the V 2 O 5 –MnO 2 blend content in the composites and the temperature. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137 , 47680.