Synthesis of graphite incorporated core–shell composite of styrene-methylacrylate/polyaniline by surfactant free mini-emulsion polymerization and evaluation of their electrical property

Abstract

A series of core–shell particles (SMAP/G) having polystyrene-methylacrylate copolymer (styrene-methyl acrylate) as the core and graphite incorporated polyaniline as the shell were prepared by surfactant free mini-emulsion polymerization. Here poly (SMA) copolymer latex particles were first dispersed in water and then coated with polyaniline (PA) by in situ polymerization of aniline in presence of different percentage (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0%) of graphite. The composite particles were characterized by FTIR, XRD and TGA. TEM and SEM analysis confirms the core–shell morphology of the composite particles. DC electrical conductivity values of all the samples were measured by using a standard four-probe method. The effect of temperature and the amount of graphite incorporated into the PA shell on the dc electrical conductivity of the core–shell composites was investigated. The electro chemical behaviour of the core–shell composites was studied by using a cyclic voltammeter. Electro chemical data shows that the core–shell composites are sufficiently stable under redox potential of 50 mV/s to find applications in various electronic devices.