Influence of surface morphology on the colloidal and electronic behavior of conjugated polymer-silica microspheres

A template approach to the synthesis of a series of conjugated polymer-mesoporous silica composite microspheres is described. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), poly(thiophene), and poly( N-methylpyrrole) composites were prepared. The surface morphology of the samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, and it was found that well-defined, monodisperse colloidal materials could only be prepared when the monomer is insoluble in the polymerization medium. The filling of the mesopores was systematically varied from 0% to 100%, and powder X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption studies were used to confirm the pore filling. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the polymer loading tracks the monomer loading in an asymptotic fashion. Conductivity measurements show that the conductivity of the PEDOT materials is relatively constant at high polymer loadings but decreases exponentially at low loadings. Measurements of the electrophoretic mobility were made in order to explain this behavior. These data suggest that, at high polymer loadings, the particle surface is characteristic of the polymer, while at low polymer loadings it is characteristic of the silica host. These results identify important design criteria for the template synthesis of a variety of new colloidal materials. Importantly, these optimized parameters may open the door to the preparation of colloids and colloidal crystals of previously unprocessable materials.