Synthesis and Characterization of a Conductive Polyaniline/Clay Hybrid System

Abstract

This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of polyaniline/montmorillonite hybrid polymer. Montmorillonite is a natural clay mineral. By an intercalative polymerization reaction the hybrid is synthesized. In our study, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were examined together with controls (PANI and clay) with the EPR signals from all the PANI/clay samples showing very high spin density (10 19 spins /g polymer). PANI/clay samples show g-values higher than that of pure PANI control. Dc conductivity was measured by a four-point probe method and it was found not to be a linear function of PANI content, but the values are consistent with a percolation threshold.