Synthesis and characterization of aniline and aniline-o-sulfonic acid copolymers

The copolymer of aniline (An) and aniline-o-sulfonic acid (AS) is synthesized by chemical oxidation polymerization. The effects of mole ratio of copolymerized monomers on chain structure, thermostability, conductivity, redox properties of copolymer are discussed. It is indicated that if more AS monomers in polymerization system the corresponding structure units will increase, but their relation isn’t linear. When An:AS = 1:1, the ratio of structure unit in copolymer is 9:1, and it is only 1:2 for copolymer with An:AS = 1:6. The measurements of conductivity and redox activity also prove that the properties of An-co-AS(1:1), (1:3), and (1:4) are similar to polyaniline due to more An units than AS. When An:AS is higher than 1:6, it shows out the properties of copolymer is similar to those of poly(aniline-o-sulfonic acid), and their redox route is different. They will transform to follow the route of LH ↔ EH ↔ P. The results of thermo-analysis indicate that the decomposition temperature of AS units is lower than An units because of the electron-withdrawing group substitution. The decomposition temperature of polymer is related to dopant and doping degree. Electron-withdrawing group, -SO₃H, substitution and HCl doping will decrease polymer chain decomposition temperature. The mechanism of copolymerization of An and AS is different from homopolymerization. The monomer with low oxidation potential forms free radical cation firstly, which transfers to monomer with higher oxidation potential and initiates its polymerization.