Synthesis and Charge Transport of Polymer Nanocomposite of Polyaniline: Polystyrene Sulfonate

Abstract

We demonstrate the preparation of water-dispersible polyaniline:polystyrene sulfonate (PANI:PSS), which was doped with camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) and co-doped with poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS). The proper formation of the PANI and PANI:PSS was verified by FTIR measurements. The synthesized samples were further characterized via UV-vis spectroscopy. The intensive study on the current density (J)-voltage (V) characteristics within the temperature range (143-303 K) of the synthesized sample was performed systematically. The electrical study shows that the doping of PANI with CSA as a dopant and PSS as a co-dopant significantly improves the overall semi-conducting property of PANI. The detailed analysis of the current density (J)-voltage (V) curve at various temperatures reveals the electrical conduction behavior, which follows the trap-dependent space-charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanism.