Fabrication of 3D Polypyrrole/Graphene Oxide Composite Hydrogels with High Performance Swelling Properties

The polypyrrole (PPy)/graphene oxide (GO) composite hydrogels with hierarchical porous structures were fabricated by one-step self-assembly method. The static oxidation polymerization of pyrrole monomer in GO aqueous solution resulted in the formation of three-dimensional (3D) PPy/GO composite hydrogels, which consisted of one-dimensional PPy nanofibers and two-dimensional GO nanosheets. The as-prepared composite hydrogels exhibited shrinking–swelling behavior with cycles of suction and water-supplying. The effects of GO nanosheets content on the swelling properties were investigated. Results showed that the well-dispersed GO nanosheets in the hydrogel networks resulted in a significant improvement in water absorbencies of the hydrogels. PPy/GO composite hydrogels exhibited unobvious variation in the water absorbency even in saline solutions. Such excellent properties in water absorbencies endow the conducting 3D PPy/GO composite hydrogels with great potential applications in electrochemical sensors or controlled release.