One-step synthesis of conductive graphene/polyaniline nanocomposites using sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate: preparation and properties

Abstract

The preparation of conducting graphene/polyaniline–sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (PANI–SDBS) nanocomposites using synthesised graphene as the starting material is successfully conducted in the present study. The effect of the anionic surfactant SDBS on the properties of the graphene/PANI–SDBS nanocomposites is studied. The structure and morphology of the synthesised nanocomposites are characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrical conductivity properties of the resulting nanocomposites are determined using a resistance meter measurement system. The FESEM and TEM images reveal that the addition of SDBS surfactant to the PANI transforms the nanofibers of the PANI to a nanosphere morphology of PANI–SDBS. FTIR and UV–vis studies reveal that the conductive graphene/PANI–SDBS nanocomposites are successfully synthesised. AFM characterisation shows that the addition of graphene reduces the root mean square roughness of the surface of the PANI. The electrical conductivity and thermal stability of the PANI are improved after the introduction of SDBS. The nanocomposites containing a 5 wt% graphene loading exhibit the highest electrical conductivity of 2.94 × 10−2 S/cm, which is much higher than that of PANI (9.09 × 10−6 S/cm).