Synthesis of expanded graphite filled polyaniline composites and evaluation of their electrical and electrochemical properties

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 22; no. 8; pp. 1154 - 1161
• Main Authors: Konwer, Surajit, Gogoi, Jyoti P., Kalita, Amarjyoti, Dolui, Swapan K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.08.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aniline; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Graphite; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical constants: refractive index, complex dielectric constant, absorption, reflection and transmission coefficients, emissivity; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Physics; Polyanilines; Polymerization; Properties and characterization; Resistivity; Scanning probe microscopes, components and techniques; Specific materials; Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell; Bipolar Plate; Charge Capacity; Polyaniline; Expanded Graphite; Expanded material; Scanning electron microscopy; Electrical conductivity; Electrical properties; In situ; Ultraviolet spectra; Thermogravimetry; Polymerization; Ultraviolet absorption; XRD; Electrochemical properties; Composite materials; Electrical conductivity measurement; Graphite; Absorption spectra; Fourier-transformed infrared spectrometry; Polyanilines; Electrical characteristic
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-010-0276-7

A series of conducting polyaniline/expanded graphite (PA/EG) composite was synthesized by in situ polymerization of aniline in acid medium followed by the addition of expanded graphite in various proportions (1, 2 and 3 wt%). The synthesized samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, ultraviolet–visible absorption, X-ray diffraction and by electrical conductivity measurements. The dc electrical conductivities of the composites were dramatically increased compared with pure polyaniline and found to be 0.50 × 10 2 S/cm to 6.11 × 10 2 S/cm. The PA/EG composites showed a reversible electrochemical response up to 150th repeated cycles as revealed by the cyclic voltametry study.