Organoclay/conjugated polymer nanocomposites: structural, thermal, and electrical properties

A detailed study about the chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline with/or 2-aminothiazole in the presence of an organoclay has been reported. The first step achieved was the organophilization of the clay by using cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant; then, the nanocomposites were synthesized with the addition of a stoichiometric amount of ammonium persulfate (APS) in aqueous solution. The effect of varying the reaction time and oxidant/monomer and co-monomer molar ratio on the polymer yield was investigated. The resulting nanocomposites were fully characterized using FTIR and UV-Vis measurements which have shown that polymerizations have been carried out. XPS has certified that the clay has undergone a cationic exchange of sodium by the cationic surfactant. X-ray diffraction confirmed that polymers/copolymers were largely incorporated into the clay. Good electrical response and improved thermal stability for the synthesized nanocomposites have been observed.