Localized polarons in in situ synthesized polyaniline nanocomposite improve the morphology and the thermal and electrical conductivity

Abstract

This paper reports the localized polarons improves the morphology, thermal and electrical conductivity of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) surfactant based polyaniline (PANI) – cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nano have synthesized by using in situ chemical reaction method. The PANI nanocomposite characterizations were done by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The impedance measurements were carried out at different temperatures and frequencies. The FT-IR results confirmed the chemical interaction in the PANI nanocomposite. The XRD results provide the structural phase change in the PANI nanocomposite. The TGA and DSC results reveal the enhanced thermal stability with increasing nano Co₃O₄ concentration. The SEM image shows a substantial change in PANI morphology after incorporating nano Co₃O₄ composite and the TEM image shows the occurrence of nano rods in the PDC2 composites. The AC conductivity and dielectric constant results were enhanced with temperature and nanocomposite concentration. The DC electrical conductivity increases with increasing amounts of nano cobalt oxide in the composite and achieved maximum conductivity for PDC2. These results suggest that the polyaniline (PANI)/dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA)/cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) (PDC) nanocomposite.