Structural, Optical and Thermal Properties of PVC/Polyaniline Composite Thin Films

Free-standing thin films of polyaniline (PANI) with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were synthesized and studied for variations in the structural, optical, and thermal properties with changing polyaniline concentration in the composites. Fourier transform infrared spectra show interactions between polymeric entities. XRD shows an increase in peak intensities with polyaniline with an exception at 50% polyaniline content. SEM micrographs verify the morphological changes of the composites. The reduction in chain length of composites with increased concentration of PANI is supported by the shift in absorption edge of UV-VIS spectra towards longer wavelengths. A reduction in direct and indirect band gaps and Urbach's energy with increasing PANI concentration was observed. A monotonic increase in the intensity of photoluminescence with PANI concentration was observed with an exception for 40% polyaniline content. The glass transition temperature (T-g) for PANI/PVC composites showed a slow reduction with increased PANI concentration.

Automated summary

Freestanding thin films of polyaniline (PANI) with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were synthesized and studied for variations in structural, optical, and thermal properties with changing PANI concentration in the composites. Various analyses like Fourier transform infrared spectra, XRD, and SEM micrographs showed interactions between polymeric entities and morphological changes. The properties of the composites changed gradually with increasing PANI concentration.