Poly(N-octadecylaniline) Synthesis and Its Electrochemical Parametric Characterizations

N-Substituted polyaniline (poly(N-octadecylaniline)) was prepared through N-alkylation reaction, by introducing octadecyl chains into a highly stable leucoemeraldine base (LEB) form of polyaniline nanostructure synthesized via a new chemical polymerization method. The polymer was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. Thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods were carried out to investigate thermal behaviour of the obtained poly (N-octadecylaniline). Thermal analysis showed two endothermic transitions at 41°C and 60°C during the heating and two exothermic transitions at 20°C and 43°C during the cooling stages. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study revealed a significant morphology change by grafting of octadecyl chains onto the polyaniline backbone. The electrical con- ductivity of poly(N-octadecylaniline) that was doped with dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid (DBSA) was 8×10-4 S.cm-1 and the investigation of cyclic voltammograms (CV) showed that the electroactivity of this polymer is acceptable. The obtained polymer was completely soluble in non-polar organic solvents such as xylene and n-hexane. A thin flexible film of the synthesized poly(N-octadecylaniline) was prepared by casting from n-hexane solution and the electroactivity property of the obtained film was investigated by CV method.