Preparation and Conductivity of Polyaniline/Sio₂ Composites

Abstract

A novel polyaniline/ silica composite with a conductivity of 0.26 S/cm was prepared by the polymerisation of aniline monomer and ultrafine silica powder in aqueous solution in the presence of hydrochloric acid as dopant and ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator and oxidant. The influence of APS, silica and dopant on the volume conductivity of the composite was investigated by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and conductivity measurements. The preparation conditions were optimised. The conductivity of the composites remained fairly stable on storage for 50 days.