Comparative study of synthesis, characterization and electric properties of polypyrrole and polythiophene composites with tellurium oxide

The study involves the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPY) and polythiophene (PTP) composites of TeO₂ via in situ oxidative polymerization procedure. These composites were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM, which proves the successful chemical synthesis of PPY, PTP and their composites. FTIR absorption peaks confirms the insertion of TeO₂ in the backbone of PPY and PTP and also justifies the strong interaction of TeO₂ with PTP than PPY, which is responsible for a significant increase in the conductivity value in case of PTP composite than PPY composite, which ensures its better capability in future electronics. Thermal analysis shows no change in thermal stability unlike composites of PPY and PTP with other metal oxides, hence rules out the application of these composites for higher temperature purposes, however, the PTP composite material has shown the stability up to 200 °C which ensures its use in low temperature applications. The compactness, ordered morphology, better conjugation or chain length and orientation of TeO₂ with PTP backbone are responsible for more conductivity of PTP composite than PPY.