Controlled synthesis of PANI nanostructures using phenol and hydroquinone as morphology-control agent

Shape-controllable polyaniline (PANI) nanostructures were synthesized using phenol or hydroquinone as morphology-control agent. Various morphologies of PANI nanostructures, such as, one-dimensional fibers, two-dimensional lamellar structures, and three-dimensional flower-like structures, were obtained through altering the mole ratio of phenol or hydroquinone to aniline. Scanning electron microscopy was applied to observe the morphologies of the products. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrate that the ratio between quinoid structure and benzene structure was affected by the amount of phenol or hydroquinoid used in the synthesis process. This simple approach has opened a controllable synthesis route to fabricate advanced functional materials.