Template synthesis of micro/mesoporous Cl-doped polypyrrole using vapor phase polymerization

Template synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) in three-dimensional interconnected channels was attained using vapor phase polymerization by the oxidation of pre-adsorbed pyrrole within a microporous metal-organic framework of [Cu3(btc)2]n (btc=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) upon exposure to FeCl3 vapor. The formation of Cl-doped PPy was confirmed by material characterizations. Moreover, the product exhibited interesting microstructure features with an octahedron-like shape and high porosity, possibly a result of the Cu3(btc)2 template. The BET surface area of the porous PPy was 455m2/g and its pore size was distributed in the range of 1-10nm. In preliminary measurements of cyclic voltammetry, the micro/mesoporous PPy-modified electrode exhibited a higher quasi-reversible electrochemical response for ferricyanide than a bare glass carbon electrode.