Electroactive composites: PANI electrochemical synthesis with GO and rGO for structural carbon fiber coating

Abstract

The use of light structural, thermal and electronic materials is of interest to the aerospace industry. The objective of this paper is to research the most suitable methodology for the surface transformation of carbon fiber with polyaniline (PANI), graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), through PANI electrosynthesis and dripping of graphene oxides. Four conditions were proposed: (1) PANI electrosynthesis followed by GO dripping electrodeposition; (2) GO dripping followed by PANI electrosynthesis; (3) electrodeposition of PANI and GO from an acid solution of aniline and GO; and (4) electrodeposition of PANI and rGO from an acid solution of aniline and rGO. Morphology, structure, surface electrical resistivity and electrochemical properties were analyzed. Condition 1 showed the lowest electrochemical impedance and surface resistivity, specific capacitance and high current density and, therefore, is the condition that indicated a greater gain of electroactivity in the composite material.