Preparation and modification of polythiophene–organic montmorillonite composite

Polythiophene‐organic montmorillonite (PTP‐OMMT) composites were prepared via Fe³⁺‐H₂O₂ catalytic oxidation system at room temperature in water (medium) within the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. The PTP‐OMMT composite made from 2 g/ml solution of OMMT/TP with reacting for 12 h shown the highest conductivity (3.44 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm). The prepared PTP‐OMMT was modified with aniline (ANI) and pyrrole (PY) under Fe³⁺‐H₂O₂ and ammonium persulfate (APS) oxidation systems. The conductivity of PANI‐(PTP‐OMMT) and PPY‐(PTP‐OMMT) reached the range from 10⁻² S/cm to 10⁻¹ S/cm, showing a growth of 10³ to 10⁴ times. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that thiophene enter into OMMT to form intercalation compounding, which undamaged after ANI and PY modification. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) comfirmed the improved thermostability of PTP‐OMMT and the decreased thermostability of modified materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that modified materials under Fe³⁺‐H₂O₂ oxidation system presented regular spherical structures. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2503–2510, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers