Investigation of the Dopant Exchange Behavior of Polyaniline Hydrochloride Films upon Addition of Sulfuric Acid

Abstract

The effect of sulfuric acid and its concentration on polyaniline (PANI) hydrochloride film was studied. The PANI hydrochloride film was prepared using the chemical oxidation of aniline and was monitored using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. QCM was also used to determine the dopant weight fraction (DWF) and the exchange behavior of PANI films. Upon the addition of sulfuric acid, exchange of the chloride ion dopants from the polymer chains with the sulfate dopants was observed. The extent of doping was found to depend on the concentration of sulfuric acid. The UV-vis absorption spectra and the conductivity of the in situ PANI films deposited onto glass supports immersed in the polymerization medium were measured.

Keywords:

• Conducting polymer
• Dopant exchange
• Polyaniline film
• Quartz crystal microbalance