Spectroscopic, transport, and morphological studies of polyaniline doped with inorganic acids

A conducting polymer, polyaniline, was synthesized by chemical polymerization using different inorganic acids, such as HCl, H2SO4, HClO4, HNO3, and H3PO4, as protonic acid media. The synthesized polymers were characterized using UV-visible and FF-IR spectroscopy. A granular type of morphology was observed under SEM for HCl, HNO3, and H3PO4 doped polyanilines. However, HClO4 doped polyaniline shows the folded lamellar structure derived from the fibers. The thermal stability of these polymers was investigated with the help of thermogravimetric (TG/SDTA) analysis. The formation of a greater fraction of the conducting emeraldine salt phase is observed in HClO4 as a protonic acid media. The thermal stability of H3PO4 doped material is found to be better as compared with other acids. An increase in conductivity with an increase in temperature was observed in all the samples except for HClO4 doped polyaniline. (C) 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.