Synthesis and characterisation of nanostructured conducting polyaniline using various structure directing agents

Abstract

The nanostructured conducting polyanilines (NSPANI) were synthesised using single and composite structure directing agents (SDA). The SDA include sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS) and camphor sulphonic acid (CSA). The NSPANI were characterised by UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern and conductivity measurement. It has been found that the NSPANI with SDBS as SDA has provided the best electrical properties, smallest size as well as well-defined surface morphology as compared to SDS. In case of composite SDA, an enhancement in size with reduction in conductivity and complex morphology has been observed. The mechanisms of formation in both the cases have been proposed.