Synthesis and characterization of hollow polyaniline microtubes and microbelts with nanostructured walls in sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar solutions

Abstract

Doped polyaniline in its emeraldine salt form (PANI-ES) were successfully prepared by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization using various concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar solutions. Structural analysis using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed that the morphologies of fabricated PANI-ES contain hollow tube-like and belt-like structures with thickness in the range of 100-200 nm, diameters in the range of 1-5 mu m, and lengths up to several tens and hundreds of micrometers. The changes of morphology from particle-like into microtube-like or microbelt-like structure with nanostructured walls are strongly dependent on the concentration of SDS. The conductivities of fabricated PANI-ES with 0.1 M SDS content at room temperature are 80% higher than those of PANI-ES without SDS, perhaps because SDS may serve as a dopant or the formation of one-dimensional structure to improve the conductivity of PANI-ES.