Polyaniline/Graphitenanosheets/Eu³⁺Nanocomposite: Synthesis and Characterization

Abstract

A novel structure of nan0Composite consisting of conducting Polyaniline (PANI), graphite nanosheets (NanoGs) and Eu3+ was synthesized through emulsion polymerization. NanoGs were prepared via powdering the expanded graphite with the aid of sonication in aqueous ethanol solution. Then NanoGs and rare earth ions (Eu3+) were directly organised with sonication, using p-toluene-sulfonic acid (P-TSA) as an emulsifier and dopant, (NH4)2S2O8 as inducing reagent and the polymerization of aniline monomer simultaneously. The product was characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fouier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). From the thermogravmetric analysis, the introduction of NanoGs and rare-earth ions (Eu3+) exhibited a beneficial effect on the thermal stability of pure PANI.