Low temperature synthesis of high molecular weight polyaniline using dichromate oxidant.

Aniline was polymerised at temperatures of between 0 and −35°C in acid solution containing lithium chloride and using dichromate oxidant. The optimum temperature to give high molecular weight polyaniline in the emeraldine oxidation state in good yield was found to be −22 ± 3°C. A solvent cast polyaniline camphorsulfonate film was uniaxially stressed to give a conductivity of 848 ± 70 Scm−1 along the stretch direction and 118 ± 10 Scm−1 perpendicular to this.