Electrical, Structural, and Thermo-Electric Power Studies of Polypyrrole-MnO₂ Composites

In situ polymerization of pyrrole was carried out with manganese dioxide, in the presence of an oxidizing agent ammonium persulfate, in order to synthesize polypyrrole/manganese dioxide composites, by the chemical oxidation method. The polypyrrole/manganese dioxide composites were synthesized with different concentrations viz., 10 and 15 wt % of manganese dioxide in pyrrole. SEM and XRD analyses were done on polypyrrole and polypyrrole/manganese dioxide composites. The results of Seebeck coefficient, thermo-electric power factor, A.C. conductivity and dielectric properties values for the polypyrrole/manganese dioxide composites have demonstrated a strong dependence on the weight percent of manganese dioxide in the pure polypyrrole. The results of Seebeck coefficient have indicated a linear relationship between Seebeck coefficient, temperature gradient and the content of manganese dioxide in the polypyrrole as well.