Multiple hopping conduction in interpenetrating polymer network composites of poly pyrrole and poly (styrene-co-butyl acrylate)

Interpenetrating polymer network composites of poly pyrrole and FeCl<SUB>3</SUB> impregnated poly (styrene-co-butyl acrylate) have been synthesized by chemical route. ac conductivity measurements have been carried out on these specimens in the frequency range 100 to 2 MHz over temperatures varying from 110 to 350 K. Detailed analyses of the results show that a multiple hopping conduction mechanism is operative in all the samples. Two activation energies viz., ~(0.05-0.08) eV and ~0.02 eV are found which are believed to arise due to interchain and intrachain hopping of polarons, respectively