Polypyrrole-ZnO nanohybrids: effect of CSA doping on structure, morphology and optoelectronic properties

Polypyrrole-ZnO (PPy-ZnO) nanohybrid was prepared from PPy and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). Nanohybrids of PPy-ZnO were doped with camphor sulfonic acid (CSA) with different weight ratios (10-50 %). The CSA-doped nanohybrids obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, field emission SEM, UV-vis spectroscopy and electrical transport method. Structural investigations using X-ray diffraction shows new peaks appeared at 15.44 degrees and 17.61 degrees in the XRD pattern of CSA-doped PPy-ZnO nanohybrids belong to CSA. The FTIR spectra confirmed the strong interaction between the CSA and PPy-ZnO nanohybrids. The UV-visible spectrums revealed the enhancement of doping level for the 30 % CSA-doped PPy-ZnO nanohybrid film which is assigned to the existence of greater number of charges on the polymer backbone. The room temperature dc electrical conductivity of CSA-doped PPy-ZnO nanohybrids were observed to depend on the CSA doping and the morphology.