New organic dispersions of conducting polymers using polymeric ionic liquids as stabilizers

Polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI), and poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) aqueous dispersions were prepared by polymerizing the corresponding monomer in the presence of a polymeric ionic liquid (PIL), poly(1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide). By addition of bispentafluoroethanesulfonimide lithium salt, the PIL stabilizer becomes hydrophobic and precipitates in water and traps the conducting polymer microparticles inside. The dispersion of the recovered powders in organic solvents leads to organic conducting dispersions. After casting the organic dispersions, hydrophobic films with electrical conductivity values as high as 0.1 S (.) cm(-1) were obtained.