Effects of synthetic conditions on the structure and electrical properties of polyaniline nanofibers

Polyaniline nanofibers were synthesized by interfacial polymerization in the presence of hydrochloric acid (HClO4). The effects of the molar ratio of ammonium persulfate (APS) to aniline (ANI) (represented by [APS]/ [ANI] ratio) and HClO4 concentration on the morphology, chain structures, and electrical properties of the polyaniline (PANI) were investigated to understand the formation of nanofibers. The structure and properties of the resulted PANI were characterized with FTIR, UV–Vis, TEM, XRD, and conductivity in detail. The results showed that low [APS]/[ANI] ratio (£1/4) and high HClO4 concentration (‡1000 mol/m3) were benefit to the preparation of uniform PANI nanofibers with low content of phenazine-like units and ANI oligomers, and high conductivity.