Synthesis, characterization, and solution studies of polyoxometalate-doped conducting polymers

The present research focus is to design a new catalyst by doping polyoxometalate (POM) in conducting polymers. Polypyrrole (PPy)-doped Keggin type POM [PMO ₁₂ O ₄₀ ] ³⁻ with various molar concentrations were synthesized using the coprecipitation method. The doped samples were synthesized and characterized using spectral techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectra, which show the presence of extended functional groups, and scanning electron microscopic morphology exhibits a square-shaped structure. X-Ray diffraction results reveal crystallite size of around 40 nm. The conductivity of PPy is 3.3 × 10 ⁻⁶ S cm ⁻¹ , whereas polyacid-doped polypyrrole has resulted in increased conductivity of 7.12 × 10 ⁻⁵ S cm ⁻¹ . The antimicrobial activity of PPy revealed a better antibacterial activity due to the presence of the NH group and aromatic ring in the structure.