Polyaniline-based conducting hydrogels

Conducting polymer hydrogels (CPHs) have been identified as a promising class of polymeric material for a wide range of applications such as biomedical, energy, environmental, health and agricultural domains. CPHs have received immense consideration because of their biocompatibility, hydrophilic properties, biodegradable nature, electroconductivity, ample resources and ease of preparation. Flexible nature of CPHs is considered as a potential candidate for some innovative technologies like flexible electronics especially flexible supercapacitors and solar cells, and their biocompatibility nature plays a key role in biomedical applications such as bioconductors, biosensors, implantable medical devices, electro-stimulated drug delivery systems, artificial muscle, and tissue engineering. When it comes to the matter of conductivity, among conducting polymers, polyaniline has been studied extensively for its stability, variable electrical conductivity, inexpensive raw material and better compatibility with other biopolymers. This review focuses on recent developments in polyaniline-based conducting hydrogels and their applications in biomedical and energy applications. Different strategies of synthesis, thermal, structural, electrochemical behavior of CPHs and their further opportunities and challenges are also discussed here.