Biological templating of polyaniline and polypyrrole using E. coli

This study evaluated a simple method for preparing microstructures of polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy) using a different concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a biological template. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed fibers, cones/spheres, and agglomerated fiber structures with dimensions ranging from 0.5 to 1 μm. The results yielded structures with shapes that varied according to the E. coli concentration. Based on these results, this study suggests that the biological templating approach can be a superior alternative to preparing and fabricating conducting polymers that may be useful for obtaining nano- or micromaterials and devices.