Fabrication of conductive network formed by polyaniline–ZnO composite on fabric surfaces

A conductive network consisting of polyaniline (PANI) and PANI/nm-ZnO immobilized on the surfaces of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabrics was synthesized by a route involving a wet-chemical technique and in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization procedures. Morphological, structural, thermal and electrical properties of the PET fabrics modified with PANI–ZnO composites were analyzed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements of the composites revealed that the crystal structure of incorporated ZnO undergone a weak distortion during the polymerization reaction and the XRD pattern of PANI was predominate. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies indicated the presence of interaction between ZnO nanorods and molecular chains of PANI in the ZnO/PANI layers. Field emission scanning electron microscope images implied the thin composite layers showed a submicro-sized rod like network and the homogeneous distribution on the substrates. Thermogravimetric studies exhibited that the PET-ZnO/PANI composite had a higher thermal stability than anyone of PET and PET-PANI. The surface resistance of ZnO/PANI conductive films was found to be smaller than the PANI film, which was declined as aniline concentration in adsorption bath increased and reached a relatively low value when Zn(NO3)2 concentration was at 0.03 mol/L in the precursor solution.