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Polyaniline (PANI)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite was synthesized by in-situ polymerization. X-ray diffraction patterns, UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM were used to characterize the composition and structure of the nanocomposite. Nanostructured PANI/ZnO composite was used as photocatalyst in the photodegradation of methylene blue dye molecules in aqueous solution. The photocatalytic activity of PANI/ZnO nanocomposite under UV and visible light irradiation was evaluated and was compared with that of ZnO nanoparticles. ZnO/ PANI core-shell nanocomposite had greater photocatalytic activity than ZnO nanoparticles and pristine PANI under visible light irradiation. According to these results, application of PANI as a shell on the surface of ZnO nanoparticles causes the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the PANI/ZnO nanocomposite. Also UVvisible spectroscopy studies showed that the absorption peak for PANI/ZnO nanocomposite has a red shift toward visible wavelengths compared with the ZnO nanoparticles and pristine PANI. The effect of different operating conditions on the photocatalytic performance of PANI/ZnO nanocomposite in the photodegradation of methylene blue dye molecules was investigated in a bath experimental setup.

UV-Vis spectroscopy studies showed that ZnO/polyaniline nanocomposite absorbs visible light irradiation as well as ultraviolet spectrum, and therefore, it can be photoactivated under visible and ultraviolet lights. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO/polyaniline nanocomposite in degradation of ampicillin molecules in aqueous solution under natural sunlight irradiation was evaluated and compared with that of ZnO nanoparticles and pristine polyaniline. The ZnO/polyaniline core-shell nanocomposite exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared to ZnO nanoparticles and pristine polyaniline. The effect of operating conditions (pH, ZnO/polyaniline nanocomposite dosage, and ampicillin concentration) in the photocatalytic degradation of ampicillin using ZnO/polyaniline nanocomposite was investigated. The optimum conditions for maximum efficiency of ampicillin degradation under 120 min sunlight irradiation were found as 10 mg L(-1) dosage of ZnO/polyaniline nanocomposite, ampicillin concentration of 4.5 mg L(-1), and solution pH = 5. Under optimum operating conditions, degradation efficiency was reached to 41% after 120 min of exposure to the sunlight irradiation.

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Polyaniline (PANI) nanofibres were synthesised by the chemical oxidative polymerisation method using ammonium peroxydisulphate (APS) as an oxidant/initiator. In this work, a surfactant-assisted method without shaking and stirring was used for the synthesis of PANI nanofibres. The effect was investigated of various parameters such as monomer/oxidant ratio, polymerisation temperature, and the presence of surfactant (Triton X-100 as a non-ionic surfactant) on the morphology and electrical conductivity of nanofibres. The morphology of PANI nanofibres was characterised by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the morphology of PANI nanofibres was significantly influenced by the aniline/APS mole ratio, polymerisation temperature and presence of the surfactant during synthesis. The results showed that more regular and consistent nanofibres were obtained using a monomer/oxidant ratio of 4 at ambient temperature of polymerisation. PANI nanofibres with diameters in the range of 10–100 nm and length up to several μm were obtained. PANI nanofibres were also characterised using FTIR and UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. The electrochemical behaviour of PANI nanofibres was studied by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that the electrical conductivity of PANI nanofibres increased with the increasing monomer/oxidant ratio and decreasing polymerisation temperature, respectively.

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