Direct current gas–liquid phase pulsed plasma polymerization of polypyrrole under atmospheric pressure.

In this study, an atmospheric‐pressure nanosecond impulse discharge initiated above the pyrrole microemulsion surface is applied to polymerize pyrrole and obtain a polypyrrole film. The films obtained under different number of plasma discharge times and duration of argon gas input time are investigated using a field emission scanning electron microscope. Results show that the roughness and thickness of the polypyrrole film can be tuned by controlling discharge times and the gas feed time. Four‐point sheet resistance measurements of the films reflect that those with a smoother and more complete surface have better electrical conductivity. The films are identified as polypyrrole by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry. Also, N2 is a critical factor in polymerizing polypyrrole and the gas–liquid plasma polymerization mechanism, which has three steps, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]