Synthesis and characterization of poly(pyrrole- co -2-nitrocinnamaldehyde) (PPNC), a new copolymer for solar cells applications

The use of conductive polymers as a substitute for metallic conductors and semiconductors has attracted much attention in the literature. In particular, aromatic heterocyclic polymers constitute an important class since they possess chemical and electrical stability in both the oxidized (doped) and neutral (undoped) state. A series of poly(pyrrole- co-2-nitrocinnamaldehyde) were obtained via the condensation of pyrrole and 2-nitrocinnamaldehyde in chloroform using acid exchanged montmorillonite clay called maghnite-H ⁺ as an efficient catalyst. The conjugated copolymer was characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.