Polyaniline nanotubules obtained in room-temperature ionic liquids

Polyaniline (PANI) nanotubules were synthesized electrochemically on a modified ITO glass in the room-temperature ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIPF6) containing 1 M trifluoroacetic acid. Tubular structures of PANI with the diameter of ∼120 nm were shown by scanning electron microscopy. The resulting PANI from this IL media is further characterized by Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra, which show that the PANI nanotubules are in the conducting form. This provides a possible IL media to functionalize conducting PANI with, for example, single wall carbon nanotubes for the application of organic photovoltaics and light emitting diodes.