Open AccessPhase‐separated, conducting composites from polyaniline and benzobisthiazole rigid‐rod polymer
Author(s) -
Tan LoonSeng,
Simko Sharon R.,
Bai Shih Jung,
Vaia Richard A.,
Taylor Barney E.,
Houtz Marlene D.,
Alexander Max D.,
Spry Robert J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part b: polymer physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1099-0488
pISSN - 0887-6266
DOI - 10.1002/polb.1224
Subject(s) - polyaniline , thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , thermal stability , protonation , composite material , poly(p phenylene) , polymer chemistry , conductive polymer , polymer , conductivity , chemistry , polymerization , organic chemistry , ion
As an alternative method for processing polyaniline (PANI) from its conducting (protonated) state, vacuum casting of PANI from a methanesulfonic acid (MSA) solution provided films with electrical conductivity values of about 130–150 S/cm. In addition, we similarly prepared blended films of PANI · MSA and poly( p ‐phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT). This process eliminated the need for a subsequent protonation step and had the additional advantage that the conjugated PBZT may provide alternative conducting pathways. Conductivity values of the composite films ranged from 100 pS/cm to 124 S/cm, and the films displayed critical concentration behavior with a PANI threshold concentration of 2.75% and a critical exponent of 4. Transmission electron micrographs displayed phase‐separated regions with PANI forming a continuous network at high concentrations. Thermogravimetric analysis results demonstrated the thermal and thermooxidative stability advantage of the blends due to the PBZT component. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2539–2548, 2001