Micro/mesoporous conducting carbonized polyaniline 5-sulfosalicylate nanorods/nanotubes: Synthesis, characterization and electrocatalysis

Micro/mesoporous conducting nitrogen-containing carbon nanorods/nanotubes with high surface area, and excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction, were synthesized by the carbonization of self-assembled polyaniline (PANI) 5-sulfosalicylate nanorods/nanotubes. Carbonization was carried out by means of gradual heating in a nitrogen atmosphere up to 800 °C. The morphology of the PANI 5-sulfosalicylate was preserved after carbonization. Carbonized PANI nanostructures containing ∼10 wt% of nitrogen had a conductivity of 0.8 S cm−1. The influence of the carbonization on the porosity and specific surface area of the nanostructured PANI has been analyzed. The morphology, elemental composition, molecular structure, surface area, and electrical characteristics of novel carbonized nanostructured PANI were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, elemental microanalysis, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, nitrogen adsorption–desorption and conductivity measurements, respectively. The electrocatalytic activity of carbonized PANI 5-sulfosalicylate nanorods/nanotubes material towards oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline conditions has been studied by the voltammetry with the rotating disc electrode.