Studies on Morphology and Conductivity of Poly (N-methyl aniline) Nanoparticles Prepared in Nonstirred Reaction Medium

Summary: Polyaniline has elicited the most interest due to its wide range of applications in many fields. However insolubility and infusibility are the main factors that affect the application of polyaniline. We have studied and worked on the synthesis of dispersible polyaniline and the results are described here. Poly (N-methyl aniline) PNMANI nanoparticles with controllable morphology and sizes were prepared by removing a routine operation stirring from the conventional method of synthesis and using acrylic acid as a soft template. It is found that polymer formed in the non-stirring experiment predominantly produces highly dispersible, smooth nanoparticles with controllable morphology and sizes. These nanoparticles have large surface area and thereby high conductivity. Mechanism for generation of well dispersed and smooth nanoparticles is supported by homogeneous nucleation of polymer nanoparticles in non stirred experiments and the use of acrylic acid as a soft template. In the case of the experiment where the reaction mixture was stirred at 1000 RPM comparatively coral-like, granular and uncontrolled polymer particles were formed. These coral like granular particles were having comparatively small surface area and less conductivity. Conductivity measurements, UV- visible, XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM were performed to characterize the product. This method can be used to synthesize highly conductive polymers in minimum time and bulk quantity.