Cyclodextrin-assisted synthesis of water-dispersible polyaniline nanofibers by controlling secondary growth

Uniform polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers (average diameter about 30 nm) are readily synthesized via a mediated-polymerization method in an aqueous medium by the use of cyclodextrin (CD) to control the secondary growth. Oligomers formed at an early stage act as seeds for the formation of the fully grown PANI nanofibers. The nucleation-growth theory – “birth-and-spread growth” mechanism – is employed to provide insight into the important effect of CD on the formation of PANI nanofibers. This mediated-polymerization method is able to produce high quality nanofibers in bulk.

► Bulk quantities of uniform polyaniline nanofibers were synthesized by a green way in one step.
► Oligomers protected by cyclodextrins as seeds is essential.
► The birth-and-spread growth mechanism is employed to explain the role of cyclodextrin.