Synthesis of PANI-CaO Composite Nanofibers With Controllable Diameter and Electrical Conductivity

We report the direct evidence of the control of diameter, surface morphology, and conductivity of polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers by systematically varying the addition of CaO in the range from 0.005 to 1.00 g. The possible incorporation of CaO in PANI was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The diameter of PANI nanofibers was varied with the variation of CaO loadings. The low diameter, 30 nm was obtained for the highest loading of CaO (1.00 g). Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the addition of CaO between the range of 0.005 and 1.00 g, always produces nanofibers with regular and uniform surface morphology and without secondary growth and agglomeration of primary nanoparticles. Conductivity measurements showed that the highest conductivity value of 6.329 S cm(-1) could be obtained by the addition of the lowest amount of CaO (0.005 g). Furthermore, we observed the decreasing trend of conductivity with the increasing of CaO loadings. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:359-366, 2015. (c) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers