Micro/Nano-Structured Conducting Copolymer From Aniline With 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene And Their Property

Novel conducting copolymers from aniline (AN) with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) with different micro/nano-structures were synthesized by chemical oxidation. The influences of [EDOT]/[AN] molar ratios on morphology, structure, electrical conductivity, and solubility of copolymers are systematically studied. It is found that the copolymer's morphologies as well as electrical conductivity vary with the change of [EDOT]/[AN], and the extremum exists during the conductivity variation. From the SEM photograph, we can know that the copolymer has a uniform nanofiber structure at [EDOT]/[AN]=1.5/1. It is shown in the infrared spectrum that the copolymer has both the macromolecular chain structure of PANI and PEDOT, indicating that the copolymerization effect of the two is very good. The UV absorption spectrum is non-monotonic with the change of [EDOT]/[AN] molar ratio, which also proves the copolymerization structure of EDOT and AN. Interestingly, the copolymers exhibit better solubility and partial crystallinity compare with each single homopolymer. Moreover, the copolymer presents good electrochromic properties with the reversible color change among blue, blue green, yellowish green, which combines the color variation range of PANI and PEDOT.