The effect of Ce3+ cations on polyaniline morphology and electric properties

Polyaniline (PANI) is synthesized in the potentiostatic pulse mode from an electrolyte containing Ce₂(SO₄)₃. Cations Ce³⁺ are incorporated into the polymer composition during PANI redox transformations. It is shown that PANI in its conducting and dielectric forms contains different amounts of Ce³⁺ cations. Starting with the beginning of polymerization, the Ce³⁺ cations actively form the special polymer morphology as demonstrated by SEM images. The chief consequence of the formation of so well-developed uniform nanostructure is that the latter allows the dopant anions, cations, and protons to easily enter and leave it. This, in turn, results in the high electrochemical activity of this polymer and enhances the conductivity of PANI samples doped with Ce³⁺ cations as compared with those doped with only protons.