Electrical transport and optical properties of vanadyl phosphate—polyaniline nanocomposites

The nanocomposites of conducting polyaniline and layered vanadyl phosphate, VOPO4·2H2OVOPO4·2H2O are synthesized by redox intercalation method. Water content decreases with insertion of polyaniline molecules. In scanning electron micrographs plate like structures are observed for both VOPO4·2H2OVOPO4·2H2O and intercalated nanocomposites. Protonation of polyaniline and interaction with vanadyl phosphate are observed in infrared and UV absorption spectroscopy. Intercalation improves conductivity of pristine vanadyl phosphate. Thermally activated electrical dc conductivity at low temperature shows two distinct slopes around 210 K for both the nanocomposites. The optical band gap of vanadyl phosphate decreases from 4.0 to 3.7 eV due to insertion of polyaniline.