A study on the synthesis, characterization and properties of polyaniline using acrylic acid as a primary dopant. I: polymerization and polymer

Abstract

AbstractIn the presence of acrylic acid (AA) as a primary dopant, polyaniline (PANI) doped with poly(acrylic acid) was successfully synthesized by using ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator and oxidizing agent. The effect of experimental conditions on the polymer yields was systematically studied. It was found that the polymer yield can be as high as 65%, and this value strongly depends on synthesis conditions, such as the reaction time, the molar ratio of oxidizing agent to aniline monomer, the concentration of reactants and reaction temperature. The molecular weight ($\bar M_{\rm w}$) of main chains of the de‐doped PANI is estimated to be 32,000–53,000. Based on the data of FT‐IR, UV‐vis, 13C‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), elemental analysis and electrical conductivity measurement, the emeraldine salt form of PANI was confirmed and the molecular structure of the resulting PANI‐AA was proposed. Accordingly the reaction mechanism was discussed and it was convinced that the polymerization reaction of AA is initiated by APS. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.