Comparative Study of the Formation Mechanism of Polyaniline Nanorods and Nanotubes Through In Situ NMR Technique

Abstract

The formation mechanism of nanostructured polyaniline (PANI) synthesized in a micelle-like system was studied by a series of in situ NMR experiments, including 1 H NMR and CPMG. Depending on the signal evolution of the major species, the polymerization of polyaniline was divided into three continuous stages. At first, the neutral aniline molecules changed into anilinium, and the aniline dimer produced; and then, the consumption of aniline increased rapidly, the phenazine-like oligomers occurred and hydrated water increased, the micelles remained spherical; the different morphologies of polyaniline were formed by the fusion of spherical micelles in final. In combination with the evolution of the morphology which was characterized through TEM, the formation mechanism of nanostructured polyaniline was compared and analyzed.

The influence of aniline on the properties of polyaniline nanotubes and their polymerisation mechanism

“…It has excellent properties such as high aspect ratio, high porosity, excellent mechanical properties, super hydrophobicity, excellent temperature stability and high conductivity. 12,13 Polyaniline nanotubes can be used as an efficient electronic transmission medium, so they are widely used to prepare sensors, electrode materials etc . 14 Polyaniline nanotubes have high strength and flexibility, and can well resist external forces and deformation.…”