Self-assembled nanostructural polyaniline doped with azobenzenesulfonic acid

Nanostructures (e.g. nanotubes and nanofibers) of polyaniline (PANI) with 110similar to130 nm in diameter and 2.5 x 10(-2) S/cm of conductivity were synthesized by a self-assembly process in the presence of azobenzenesulfonic acid (ABSA) as a dopant for the first time. It was found that the formation probability and size of PANI-ABSA nanostructures depend on the molar ratio of aniline to ABSA and the concentration of ABSA. In particular; the PANI-ABSA nanostructures exhibited trans-cis photoisomerization, which is similar to that of azobenzene moiety, upon irradiation with UV light (lambda=365nm). ABSA or Aniline/ABSA salt micelles were proposed to interpret the formation of PANI-ABSA nanostructures.