Ag/re-doped polyaniline nanoparticle composites: thermal and electrical properties

Abstract

We have synthesized Ag/re-doped polyaniline nanoparticle composites to enhance the thermal stability of the polyaniline. Polyaniline nanoparticles are prepared by micellar polymerization. Re-doped polyaniline nanoparticles are synthesized via doping, de-doping and re-doping processes. In the case of the re-doping process, mercaptosuccinic acid is used as a dopant in order to introduce silver to the polyaniline structure via sulfur-silver bonding. The Ag/re-doped polyaniline nanoparticle composite has been characterized using FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thermal stability of the Ag/re-doped polyaniline nanoparticle is studied by measuring the surface resistivity of the nanoparticle film as a function of time at 100 and 120°C.