Synthesis of polyaniline nanorods/polystyrene composite via facile in situ radical bulk polymerization

The PANI nanorods/polystyrene (PANI/PS) composite was prepared via the in situ radical bulk polymerization of styrene in the presence of the well-defined polyaniline (PANI) nanorods for the first time. The excellent dispersibility of the maleic acid doped PANI nanorods (PANI–MA) in the polystyrene (PS) matrix indicated that some PS chains had been grafted from the PANI nanorods via the copolymerization of styrene and maleic acid (MA) molecules from the surfaces of PANI–MA nanorods. The change of the molecular structure and doping degree of the PANI nanorods before and after the radical polymerization were investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) technique.

► PANI/PS composite was prepared via the in situ radical bulk polymerization.
► The PANI nanorods were dispersed excellent in polystyrene matrix.
► The composites are semiconductive and their electrical conductivity is tunable.