The use of p(4-VP) cryogel as template for in situ preparation of p(An), p (Py), and p(Th) conductive polymer and their potential sensor applications

Superporous poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (p(4VP)) cryogels were used as a template for the in situ synthesis of conductive polymer such as poly(aniline) (p(An)), poly(pyrrole) (p(Py)) and poly(thiophene) (p(Th)) via oxidative polymerization technique to obtain p(4-VP)/conductive composite semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPN). The amount of in situ polymerized p(An), p(Py), and p(Th) within p(4-VP) cryogels were determined gravimetrically, and the highest amounts of conductive polymer was prepared for p(Th) in situ within p(4-VP) network with %39.3 +/- 1.2 (wt%). The prepared p(4-VP)/p(An), p(4-VP)/p (Py), and p(4-VP)/p(Th) semi-IPN conductive cryogel composite systems were characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. The conductivities of p(4-VP) cryogels were increased from 1.75 x 10(-9) +/- 1.9 x 10(-10) S cm(-1) to about 150 K, 65 K and 600 fold with the in situ synthesis of p(An), p(Py), and p(Th) respectively. Furthermore, the sensor applications of the prepared p(4-VP)/p(An), p(4VP)/p(Py), and p(4-VP)/p(Th) semi-IPN conductive cryogel systems were tested for different gases such as HCI, NH3 and against aqueous solutions of methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) dyes. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.