Soft template method to synthesize polyaniline microtubes doped with methyl orange

A soft template method for fabrication of polyaniline (PANI) microtubes is presented in this paper. It was found that methyl orange in acidic solution can be effectively self-assembled into supramolecular aggregates like flake and dendrite and they were used as soft templates to prepare PANI microtubes in the present of aniline monomer and ammonium peroxydisulfate. The morphology and chemical structure of the PANI microtubules were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectra, UV-vis absorption spectra (UV-vis) and elemental analysis. The results showed prepared PANI microtubes were in conductive emeraldine state.