Chapter 12 - Polyaniline–Nanomaterial Composites: Structural, Optical, and Electrical Properties

Abstract

In the polymer industry, there is a continuous search toward new materials with improved properties. In the early days, chemists developed new monomers for the polymerization of new materials. Later, more efforts were devoted to improving properties of existing polymers by introducing several new materials with known properties to create new grades with improved properties. This chapter demonstrates a new kind of polyaniline (PANI)-based carbon nanotubes (CNTs)—CdS or ZnS semiconducting composites—which have been developed via in situ polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of multiwalled CNTs and dispersed CdS or ZnS nanoparticles. The in situ polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of CNTs and semiconducting nanomaterials is one of the most efficient and versatile ways to synthesize PANI nanocomposites. Because of the good interfacial adhesion between PANI matrix, CNTs and semiconducting materials (CdS, ZnS) are crucial for successful preparation, and they have enhanced optical and electrical properties than base polyaniline.