Preparation of polybenzidine submicrorods with controllable morphology using poly (ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene as a template and its electrochemical properties

Polybenzidine (PBz) particles were formed by the chemical polymerization in micelles of block copolymer by using Poly (ethylene oxide)-b-Polystyrene PEO₁₁₃-b-PS_x (x = 50, 58 and 100)] as templates. The samples were characterized by IR, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, constant current charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance to determine their morphologies and electrochemical properties. The results show that the prepared PBz is submicron to nanometer rod-like conducting particles with uniform sizes. Removing the templates did not affect the morphology but slightly reduced the size of the PBz particles. The size and morphology of PBz particles can be tuned by adjusting the amount of monomer. The PBz submicrorods showed 412 F·g^?1 specific capacitance in 0.3 mol·L^?1HClO₄ at the current density of 1 A·g^?1, indicating its better electrochemical activity. The specific capacitance of the PBz particles reduced less than 10% after 500 charge-discharge cycles at the current density of 3 A·g^?1, indicating its good cycling stability.