Zein-Polyaniline Blends—a Route to Electrically Conductive Biopolymer

Abstract

Preparation of zein-methanesulfonic acid doped polyaniline (PANI) conductive blends using different approaches is described. Zein-PANI films from homogeneous solutions of the components in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone were made by casting method. In another approach, in situ polymerisation of aniline in the presence of zein or corn gluten meal (CGM) was performed. It was carried out in heterogeneous conditions onto the suspension of zein or CGM and also homogeneously with zein and aniline dissolved in aqueous alcohol. The electrical conductivity of the zein-PANI products was measured. They were also characterised by Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy, Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis, Gel Permeation Chromatography, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Elemental analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy.

Keywords:

• Biopolymer
• electrical conductivity
• in situ polymerisation
• polyaniline
• zein

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (Contract no. UOAX0812), Michél Nieuwoudt for assistance with GPC and FTIR spectroscopy, Dr. Colin Doyle and Ashveen Nand for assistance with XPS.