Electrically conductive nanocomposites of polyaniline with poly(vinyl alcohol) and methylcellulose

Abstract

Electrically conductive nanocomposites of HCl-doped polyaniline (PANI-HCl) nanocolloid particles with water-soluble and film-forming polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and methylcellulose (MC) were prepared by the redispersion of preformed MC-coated submicrometric PANI-HCl particles in PVA and MC solutions under sonication for 1 h and the casting of the films from the dispersions followed by drying. The submicrometric polyaniline (PANI) particles were prepared by the oxidative dispersion polymerization of aniline in an acidic (1.25M HCl) aqueous ethanol (30 : 70) medium with MC as a steric stabilizer. The particles contained 4.7 wt % MC and had a conductivity of 7.4 S/cm. They had an oblong shape of 203 nm (length) and 137 nm (breadth). Sonication broke the oblong-shaped particles to sizes of $10 nm in the PVA matrix and $60 nm in the MC matrix. The electrical conductivity of these films was measured, and the percolation threshold was determined. The composites had the characteristics of a low percolation threshold at a volume fraction of PANI of 2.5 Â 10 À2 in the PVA matrix and at a volume fraction of 3.7 Â 10 À2 in the MC matrix.

In situ fabrication of polyaniline‐silver nanocomposites using soft template of sodium alginate

“…However, inferior mechanical properties, insolubility in regular solvents and poor processability of PANI have hindered its potential applications. To prevail over such difficulties, the preparation of conventional thermoplastic‐electroconductive polymer composites is a successful strategy to achieve unique properties and applications of the resultant materials 5–7. Obviously, the fusion of the metal elements and PANI molecule can generate a new class of materials, nominated as metal‐doped PANI compound, which enrich the property library and enlarge the application scope offered by each element individually.…”

Poloxamer and gelatin gel guided polyaniline nanofibers: synthesis and characterization

“…Besides the discovery of novel template‐free methods and the revelation of possible applications of PANI nanofibers, the elucidation of the formation mechanism of PANI nanofibers has become a great challenge. Among various PANI nanostructures oriented PANI nanofibers and nanotubes have gained immense importance because of their potential applications in light‐emitting diodes and microelectronic devices . Considerable effort has been made towards the synthesis of PANI nanostructures with uniform diameters using a variety of methods such as the use of templates or surfactants, interfacial polymerization, oligomer‐assisted polymerization, rapidly mixed reaction, seeding polymerization, falling pH polymerization and dilute polymerization .…”

Polyaniline and Polypyrrole Templated on Self-Assembled Acidic Block Copolymers

“…[21][22][23] A second approach involves blending the conjugated polymer with matrix polymers exhibiting the desired mechanical properties. 24 Matrix polymers can include polypropylene, 25 poly(methyl methacrylate), 26,27 poly(vinyl alcohol), 28,29 and poly(n-butyl methacrylate). 30 However, all these matrices are insulating, and simple blending does not allow the degree of morphological control which would ensure continuity of the conjugated polymer phase necessary for good conductivity.…”