Potential E-ink from polypyrrole complex nanospheres

A novel E-ink was easily synthesized by redox polymerization from pyrrole and tungstophosphoric acid. The resultant nanospheres were uniformly sized, nonconductive and highly charged. By controlling the reactant concentrations, temperature and time, the sphere sizes were finely tuned below 250 nm. Analyzed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectrum, Thermogravimetric analysis and X-Ray diffraction, the spheres were revealed as layer-by-layer complex structure of nonconductive polypyrrole and PW12O404-. This structure provides a zeta potential as high as -51 mV, allowing potential application in electrophoretic display of high resolution and high response rate. 2013 Elsevier B.V.