Recent advances in polyaniline research: Polymerization mechanisms, structural aspects, properties and applications

Recent progress in synthesis, characterization, processing and application of polyaniline (PANI), with the focus on the period 2010-2012, is reviewed. Special attention was paid to new insights in the mechanism of formation of molecular/supramolecular PANI structures. An overview of PANI nanostructures is given. Formation, structure, properties and applicability of oligoanilines (OANIs) formed as intermediates and/or final products in oxidative oligomerization/polymerization of aniline are also discussed. Advances in carbonized OANI/PANI are outlined. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.