Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) characterization of electrically conducting polyaniline nanofiber/polyimide nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of polyaniline nanofibers and polyimide were fabricated and studied using small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The immiscible nature of the conformationally dissimilar polyaniline nanofiber and polyimide host is established by a series of experiments involving neutron scattering. Based on these techniques, we conclude that the crystal structure of the polyimides is not disrupted, and that there is no mixing between the two components on a molecular level. The morphology of the conducting salt component was analyzed by SANS data and was treated by two common models: Debye–Bueche (D–B) and inverse power law (IPL). Due to deviations in the linear curve fitting over a large scattering range, neither the D-B nor the IPL model could be used to characterize the size and shape of all PANI-0.5-CSA (polyaniline camphor sulfonic acid doped polymer)/polyimide blend systems. At 1 and 2% concentration, the D–B model suggested salt domains between 20 and 70 Å with fractal geometries implied by the IPL model. As salt concentrations increased to 5%, the structures were observed to change, but there is no simple structural model that provides a suitable basis for comparison.