POLYCHAR 22 World Forum on Advanced Materials, 7-11 April 2014 Stellenbosch, South Africa

ELECTRICAL, MAGNETIC, OPTICAL, AND MORPHOLOGICAL

STUDY OF POLYANILINE/METAL OXIDE NANOCOMPOSITES
Upendra B. Mahatmea, Sunil. P. Dongreb, Swati. D. Thakrec, Aruna. A. Danic
a
K. Z. S. Science College, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, INDIA-441501, ( vijaymahatme@rediffmail.com )
b
Bhalerao Science College, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, INDIA, ( drspdongre@yahoo.com )
c
Priradarshani College of Engineering, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, INDIA, ( swati.gniet@gmail.com )
ABSTRACT
The conducting polymer (CP) polyaniline (PANI) and its nanocomposites (CPNCs) with V2O5, ZnO, MgO and
MnO2 metal oxides (MOs) were chemically synthesized. The CP and CPCs with inorganic compounds have
been characterized by UV-vis and SEM spectroscopy. The d c electrical conductivities as a function of
temperature (VRH model) (298-368 K) were measured by four probe technique. Frequency response of ac
conductivity of CP and CPCs (disorder type and QMT model) has been examined. Electrical conductivity σdc of
composites varies with weight percent of inorganic additives. Some of the composites achieve σdc greater than
CP. Magnetoresistance and change in weight of high conductivity samples were examined in presence of
varying magnetic field up to 10 KG. PANI and PANI/30% MgO sows positive magnetoresistance and all other
with negative magnetoresistance. Electronic transitions and optical band gaps present in the PANI and its NCS
were examined by UV-VIS spectroscopy. UV-VIS spectrographs of all CPCs shows the absorption peaks in UV
(n- π* exciton band) and visible range (π - π* transition band) as like CP. Slight changes in respective band gaps
(UV and vis) in CPCs are taken place with weight % of additives. SEM reveals the change in the morphology of
high molecular weight PANI emeraldine salt taken place with the addition of metal oxides. Length and diameter
of PANI nanofibers significantly reduced in the PANI/MO NCs for 15 to 25 weight percent of MO to monomer.
Disappearance of PANI nanosheets gives the high porous honey comb clews for 15% to 25% weight of ZnO in
PANI/MO NCs. Reduced diameter of PANI nanofiber up to 63nm and reduced particle size below 40 nm has
been remarkably observer in PANI/20% MgO. Concentration of metal oxides in PANI/MO NCs shows the
significant impact on the morphology. It is clear that the use of H2SO4 as dopant produced nanosheet-nanofiber
network/cluster of high molecular weight PANI structure with the nanofibers having diameters 94.28 nm to
80.00 nm. The sheets with diameter more than 0.5 µm and thickness ranging 30–80 nm are abundant in PANI
SEM. Significant changes in morphology are seen in the PANI/MO composites prepared using H2SO4 as
dopant. The addition of V2O5, ZnO, MgO and MnO2 affects surface morphological features of PANI micro
sheets & nanofibers. SEM of PANI/25% ZnO NC becomes like honeycomb with nanowires or cactus like with
nanowires. It shows the agglomerated PANI nanofibers in NC having diameter up to 80 nm and particles up to
40 nm size are abundant. SEM of PANI/20% MgO shows the agglomerated PANI nanofibers of 113 nm to 63
nm widths in the NC and adsorbed particles below 40 nm sizes are abundant on PANI nanosheets. Remarkable
achievement in this study is the formation of nanoparticles in NCs up to 40 nm size.

Key words: Conducting polymer, Polyaniline , nanocomposites, chemical oxidation.