Nanoscaled Polyaniline Fibers Prepared by Ferric Chloride as an Oxidant

Summary: Nanoscaled polyaniline (PANI) fibers with 17–30 nm in diameter were successfully prepared by oxidation polymerization using ferric hydrochloride (FeCl₃ · 6H₂O) as an oxidant in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (p‐TSA), β‐naphthalenesulfonic acid (β‐NSA), and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) as the dopants. The resulting nanofibers show smaller diameter, higher crystallinity and conductivity (10⁻¹ S · cm⁻¹) compared with the nanofibers oxidized by ammonium persulfate (APS), which may be due to the lower oxidation/reduction potential of FeCl₃.

SEM images of the PANI nanofibers prepared by oxidation polymerization using ferric hydrochloride as an oxidant.