Synthesis, characterization, and thermal study of polyaniline composite with the photoadduct of potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) involving hexamine ligand

The present paper involves the synthesis of polyaniline (PANI) composite with photoadduct of potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) involving hexamine as a ligand and cobalt chloride as a complexing agent via in situ oxidative polymerization by ammonium persulphate. The photoadduct has been synthesized by photoirradiation followed by substitution with the hexamine ligand. The final product has been isolated by using CoCl₂ as complexing agent. Viscosity average molar mass has been determined by viscosity method using Ostwald’s viscometer. The photoirradiation, substitution, and successful synthesis have been proved by recording pH, UV–visible spectra before and after irradiation, and FTIR of the photoadduct. The composite based on the synthesized photoadduct has been subjected to FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and SEM characterization techniques. Thermal analysis has been done by using TG and DSC technique. FTIR absorption peaks confirm the insertion of photoadduct in the backbone of PANI. SEM of the composite also supports its successful synthesis. The XRD of photoadduct shows crystalline structure, which has remained dominant in the composite, hence proving the successful synthesis of PANI composite with photoadduct. Thermal analysis shows high thermal stability of photoadduct which in turn has improved the thermal stability of PANI composite, therefore, shows the potential of composite for high-temperature application purposes.