Microwave absorption studies of polyaniline nanocomposites encapsulating gold nanoparticles on the surface of reduced graphene oxide in the presence of 2-naphthalene sulfonic acid

Polyaniline nanocomposites containing gold nanoparticles (GNPs) attached to the surface of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were chemically prepared using β-naphthalene sulfonic acid as a dopant. The synthesized composites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy, and their surface morphology and amended crystallinity were determined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Further the elemental analysis was also performed to identify the synthesized polymer composites. Complex impedance measurements were performed on the composite samples in the form of films. Sheets prepared by conventional techniques were used to study the microwave absorption properties in the microwave range of 2–12?GHz, and the effects of sample thickness on the microwave absorption were investigated. Experimental results show that the electrical conductivity of the composites increases with increasing concentrations of added GNP-RGO without a percolation threshold.