Voltammetry of Suspensions of Polyaniline-coated Graphene Composites

Abstract

Flaky particles of polyaniline (PANI)-graphene (GN) with rectangular size of 1.0-1.5 mm are dispersed in aqueous solution so that their suspension is stable for one day without aggregation. The weight fraction of PANI in the particle is 75 %, which is independent of the loaded fraction of PANI in the synthesis. The PANI-GN film made of the suspension forms a self-standing, elastic, conductive film. The PANI-GN suspension exhibits both the reduction and the oxidation waves at potentials similar to those of PANI adsorbed on an electrode, whereas the PANI-GO suspension shows only the voltammetric reduction wave. The redox peak currents are controlled by diffusion of PANI-GN flakes. The PANI-GN film cast on the electrode shows voltammetric peaks for PANI, of which redox charge is larger than that of the electrochemically polymerized PANI film with the common weight of PANI. This fact can be explained in terms of the electrochemically exhaustive oxidation of PANI through the electric conduction of GN.