Electrochemical Fabrication of Polypyrrole Coatings on Alginate Nonwoven Fabrics via ITO Electrode for Improving the Conductive and Photothermal Properties

In this study, polypyrrole (PPy) coatings were fabricated on alginate nonwoven fabrics (ANFs) through electrochemical polymerization in a constant current mode, assisted by an indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass electrode. The effects of two anionic surfactants and two cationic surfactants on the polymerization process were compared. Among them, anionic DNS-86 exhibited the highest negative zeta potential, which significantly improved the dispersion of Py monomers and facilitated their uniform polymerization on ANFs. The mechanism of Py polymerization assisted by anionic surfactant was analyzed, revealing its dual roles as a surfactant and dopant. Characterization techniques including FTIR, XPS, and SEM confirmed the successful synthesis of PPy. The PPy coatings significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the ANFs while maintaining their flexibility. The resulting PPy-ANFs exhibited appreciable electrical conductivity and photothermal properties. This research would provide a new insight into the preparation of conductive polymers on green textile substrate for acquiring functionality.