Synthesis and Characterization of a Conducting Composite of Polyaniline, Poly(o-Anisidine), and Poly(Aniline-co-o-Anisidine)

Abstract

A conducting composite of polyaniline, poly(o-anisidine), and poly(aniline-co-o-anisidine) using incorporation of TiO2 and SiO2 was prepared by electrochemical polymerization. The films were electropolymerized in a solution containing 0.1 M monomer(s), 1 M sulfuric acid as supporting electrolyte, and 10−5 M TiO2 and SiO2 by applying a sequential linear potential scan rate of 50 mV/s between − 0.2 and 1.0 V versus an Ag/AgCl electrode. The composites were characterized by cyclic voltametry, UV-visible spectroscopy, electrical conductivity, and thermogravimetric analysis. It was observed that the UV-visible peaks appeared in the region of the conducting emerladine salt phase. In an overall study, the polymers prepared using TiO2 had a higher conductivity than those prepared with SiO2; however, higher conductivity was observed for the polyaniline-TiO2 conducting composite than for the other polymers. The composites did not lose their color at higher temperature and hence can be utilized as the conductive pigments required for antielectrostatic applications.