Properties and structural investigation of one-dimensional SAM-ATP/PANI nanofibers and nanotubes

Core–shell one-dimensional (1D) conducting nanofibers were prepared by the encapsulation of attapulgite (ATP) template with polyaniline (PANI) after the surface modification with APTES to form a SAM on the surface of ATP needle-shaped particle (SAM-ATP), and the 1D PANI nanotubes were obtained by etching the SAM-ATP template with HCl/HF solution after the PANI layers were coated onto the SAM-ATP template. The room temperature conductivity and average specific capacitance of 1D 18.7 wt% SAM-ATP/PANI nanofibers (2.21 S/cm and 418 F/g) were increased compared with pure PANI (0.47 S/cm and 342 F/g) and PANI nanotubes (0.01 S/cm and 282 F/g). The conductivity stability and thermal stability of 1D 18.7 wt% SAM-ATP/PANI nanofibers were clearly improved. These trends were accompanied by significant structural changes as evidenced by TEM, FTIR, and XRD studies.

► Core–shell one-dimensional (1D) nanofibers and nanotubes of PANI were prepared by using attapulgite.
► Attapulgite was modified with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM-ATP).
► 1D PANI nanotubes were obtained by etching the SAM-ATP template.
► The room temperature conductivities and average specific capacitances of SAM-ATP/PANI nanofibers are better than pure PANI.
► The structure of nanotubes is unfavorable for the increasing of conductivity in comparison with nanofibers of PANI.