Facile method of synthesis of polyaniline-SnO2 hybrid nanocomposites: Microstructural, optical and electrical transport properties

Polyaniline-SnO2 hybrid nanocomposites with the content of nano-SnO2 varying from 10 wt% to 50 wt% were prepared by using solid-state synthesis route at room temperature. The structure and morphology of the hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrical transport properties were studied by two probe technique. The results from FTIR and UV-vis spectra showed that the polyaniline-SnO2 hybrid nanocomposites showed higher oxidation and doping degree than pure polyaniline. The structural and morphological studies revealed that the inclusion of SnO2 nano particles hampered the crystallization of polyaniline chains in hybrid nanocomposites, and the hybrid nanocomposites exhibited mixed particles from free polyaniline particles and the SnO2 nano particles entrapped polyaniline particles. The conductivity measurements showed that the molecular chain contribution of polyaniline is the prominent carrier in PANi-SnO2 hybrid nanocomposite. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.