Oxidation of aniline with strong and weak oxidants

Oxidative polymerization of aniline by the action of a strong oxidant, ammonium peroxodisulfate, and a weak oxidant, silver nitrate, was studied in media with different acidities. Depending on the reaction conditions, the organic fraction of the products contained either nonconducting aniline oligomers or conducting high-molecular polyaniline. The effect of the oxidation potential on the oxidation process and formation of supramolecular structures by oxidation products was discussed on the basis of analysis of the kinetics and products of aniline oxidation by spectroscopic, conductometric, thermogravimetric, chromatographic (gel permeation), and electron microscopic methods. A relation was revealed between the morphology of composite materials and their electric conductivity.