Synthesis, characterisation, and electrical properties of novel nanostructured conducting poly(aniline-co-m-chloroaniline) with incorporated silver particles

Novel copolymers of poly(aniline-co-m-chloroaniline)-doped dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid (DBSA) with embedded silver nanoparticles were synthesised using the in situ chemical oxidative method. The structural properties of the copolymers were characterised using the UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopic methods. The crystalline nature of the copolymer was demonstrated by way of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of particle agglomerates measuring 50 nm to 100 nm on the surface of the nanocomposites. The electrical conductivity of the copolymer was dependent on the monomer composition and was found to be in the range of 10−2 S cm−1 to 10−6 S cm−1 with an increasing chloroaniline content and exhibiting improved solubility.