A facile and inexpensive method for the preparation of conducting polyaniline–clay composite nanofibers

• Published in: Synthetic metals 2012-12, Vol.162 (23), p.2087-2094
• Main Authors: Marins, Jéssica Alves, Soares, Bluma Guenther
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Conducting nanocomposites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Montmorillonite; Nano-fibers; Phosphoric acid; Polyaniline; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2012.10.015

[Display omitted] ► PAni–montmorillonite hybrid nanofiber was prepared. ► Static conditions and H3PO4 were used for the first time for preparing hybrid nanofibers. ► PAni–organoclay nanofiber with extended conformation and conductivity of 2.3S/cm was obtained. Hybrid nanofibers constituted by polyaniline doped with phosphoric acid (PAniPh) and two different clays: pristine montmorillonite (MMT-Na+) and organoclay functionalized with amino undecanoic acid (MMT-COOH), were successfully prepared by employing a very simple procedure based on previous swelling the clay in anilinium salt solution followed by in situ polymerization under static conditions and low [acid]/[aniline] molar ratio. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron micrograph (FEG-SEM), transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, electrical conductivity and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Nanocomposites containing around 12% of clay resulted in conducting nano-fibers with ramose structure and higher electrical conductivity than pure PAniPh. The extended conformation was also confirmed from UV–vis spectrum. The best surface conductivity (2.3S/cm) and highest extended conformation were observed for the PAniPh/MMT-COOH nanocomposite.