Chrysanthemum flower-like constructed polyaniline nanofibers synthesized by adding inorganic salts as additives

HCl-doped nanofibers of polyaniline (PANI) were chemically prepared by adding inorganic salts (e.g. LiCl, NaCl, MgCl2 and AlCl3) as the additives via a self-assembly process and aggregated to former chrysanthemum flower-like microstructures. The PANI nanofibers have not only thin diameter (17–23 nm), but also high conductivity (∼3.7 S/cm) at room temperature and high crystallinity due to a low rate of accretion or elongation process of the nanofibers by adding inorganic salts. The influence of the nature and concentration of the inorganic salts on the formation yield, morphology, diameter, molecular structure and conductivity of the self-assembled nanofibers was investigated.