1. Department of Biochemistry, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA;2. Department of Chemistry, Center for Advanced Materials, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA;3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Center for Advanced Materials, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA;4. U S. Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center, Natick, MA 01760, USA;5. Department of Plastics Engineering, Center for Advanced Materials, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA;6. Department of Physics and Applied Physics, Center for Advanced Materials, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
Abstract:
Pyrrole/EDOT copolymers were synthesized using environmentally benign enzyme catalysis. PSS was used as the solubilizing template and charge‐balancing dopant. Soybean peroxidase was utilized as a catalyst for the copolymerization reactions to yield poly(pyrrole‐EDOT)/PSS complex. Systematic studies were conducted with varying monomer feed ratios, temperature, and pH. Here we report for the first time, the enzyme catalyzed polymerization of pyrrole and EDOT at an elevated pH = 5. The polymer composition was determined using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Spectroscopic characterization [UV‐Vis, FTIR], thermal analysis, and electrical conductivity measurements for these complexes indicated the formation of stable conducting copolymers.
