Effect of Dopants and Preparation Conditions on the Conductivity of Polyaniline

Abstract

Aniline has been polymerised in the presence of inorganic acid dopants (HCl, H₂SO₄, HNO₃, and HClO₄) via chemical oxidative polymerisation at room temperature. The d.c. and a.c. conductivities were measured, and HClO₄-doped polyaniline (PANI) was selected as the most conductive. The effect of morphology and particle size on conductivity was confirmed from SEM studies. To study the effect of preparation temperature on conductivity, PANI was prepared at different temperatures using HClO₄ as dopant. The a.c. and d.c. conductivities were measured. SEM studies and X-ray analysis were carried out. PANI prepared at low temperature was found to be more conductive. The low-temperature-prepared PANI was dried at different temperatures, and conductivities were measured. Results reveal that PANI dried at high temperature shows higher conductivity. This is further confirmed by IR spectroscopy.