Design, synthesis and characterization of a novel self‐doped polyaniline derivative

Abstract

AbstractA type of self‐doped polyaniline derivative was successfully synthesized using an oxidative coupling polymerization approach. The structure of the electroactive polymer was investigated using Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Its thermal and spectral properties were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis and UV‐visible spectroscopy. The electrochemical activity of the polymer was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 1.0 mol L−1 H2SO4 solution with various scan rates. The peak current increases linearly with scan rate from 10 to 120 mV s−1, which indicates that the electrode reaction is controlled by a surface process. In addition, the self‐doped characteristic was investigated using CV in 1.0 mol L−1 KCl solution with pH value changing from 1 to 12, and the results indicate that the polymer has excellent electrochemical activity even in neutral and alkaline environments. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry