Influence of doping on the structure and electrical properties of poly(aniline)

Abstract

Poly(aniline) has been synthesized electrochemically from an aqueous solution of aniline and perchloric acid at different constant current densities of 0.30, 0.60, 0.90, 1.20 and 1.50 mA cm^-2 in order to prepare the polymers at different doped states. The doped polymers thus synthesized are found to exhibit excellent crystallinity and higher conductivity than those of dedoped one. Analysis of the studied samples by UV -vis spectroscopy also indicates differences in the structure of doped and dedoped polymers. Effects of ambient atmosphere and heating on the doped polymers have also been examined based on the measurements of X-ray diffraction pattern, d.c. conductivity together with the optical studies. An irreversible deactivation of the structure and electrical properties has been observed upon heating and ageing the polymers in air.