Dispersible polyaniline nanoparticles in aqueous poly(styrenesulfonic acid) via the interfacial polymerization route

Water-dispersible nanoparticles of polyaniline (PANI) have been conveniently synthesized via the interfacial polymerization route using chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline (ANI) with ammonium peroxodisulfate in aqueous poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS). Various molar feed ratios of ANI/PSS were employed to attain highly dispersible PANI nanoparticles. PSS was used as an anionic dopant and as a template for the formation of PANI nanoparticles. The dispersed PANI nanoparticles were characterized using a Zetasizer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Functional group analysis and the thermal stability of PANI particle dispersions were examined using FT-IR, UV–visible spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry analysis. The particle size of PANI–PSS nanoparticles was controlled by tuning the molar feed ratio of ANI/PSS. A uniform size distribution was obtained with the particle size of 5–15 nm for ANI/PSS ratios less than 1/1.