Synthesis,structure characterization,and gas sensitive properties of a copolymer of aniline with phenol

A new kind of conductive copolymers of aniline with phenol was designed and synthesized by using oxidation polymerization and the results showed that the apparent inherent conductivities of the copolymers are in the range of 10^?2 to 10^?10 S/cm which covers from conductors to insulators. The results showed that the conductivity of the copolymers strongly depends on synthesis conditions, such as reaction time, molar ratios of oxidizer to monomers and aniline to phenol, concentrations of reactants, and reaction temperature. Compared to the conventional (co)polymers of aniline and its derivatives, the magnitudes of the reversible conductivity changes are very significant, about two orders, and get to the maximum readings in about 5 min when they are exposed to ammonia gas, hydrochloric acid gas, and a various vapors of organic compounds, such as methanol, alcohol, acetone, benzene, toluene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc. It should be noted that with the introduction of the weak acidic structural units into the polyaniline chains, the copolymers are reversibly responded to both acidic and basic gases promptly. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.