Layered nanostructures of polyaniline with graphene oxide as the dopant and template

Novel layered structures of polyaniline (PANI) doped with graphene oxide (GO) were directly prepared by adding GO aqueous solution into the emeraldine base form of PANI (PANI-EB) dissolved in a mixture solution of m-cresol and ethanol. The method is simple and inexpensive because of saving inorganic or organic acids as the dopant, opening a new way to prepare hybrid materials of PANI with GO. It was proposed that the π–π planar structure of GO and the carboxyl groups on the surface of GO are served as the template and dopant, respectively that results in the formation of the layered structures. The doping function of GO in the PANI-GO has been proved by structural characterizations and conductivity measured by a four-probe method.