Conductive polyaniline-SBS blends prepared in solution

Conducting rubbery blends of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) triblock copolymer and polyaniline doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) were produced from solution. The Pani.DBSA used in these studies was prepared by the "in situ doping polymerization" which gives rise to material with electrical conductivity as high as 4 S/cm and a protonation degree of 65%, as indicated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The flexible and transparent, free-standing films obtained by casting displayed low percolation threshold. Conductivity level close to the pure Pani.DBSA was also achieved by using around 20 wt.% of Pani.DBSA in the blends. Solution blends prepared by magnetic stirring display higher conductivity than those obtained by sonication. The last method leads to a very dispersed conducting particles, as observed by optical microscopy, which contribute for a lower conductivity values. The formation of microtubules was observed by scanning electron microscopy in both Pani.DBSA and their blends with SBS. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.