Graphite/Polyaniline (GP) composites: Synthesis and characterization

Ever since the discovery of inherently conducting polymers (ICPs), research dealing with the applications of these unique materials continues to grow. The use of ICPs, especially polyaniline (PANi) and polypyrrole (PPy), and carbon black (CB) as conductive additives in the thermoplastics industry have been limited due to undesirable properties of each at high temperatures. Carbon black-ICP composites, however, have shown improved properties at higher temperatures. The applications of these composites are still limited because the conductivities are below that of carbon black alone and about the same order of magnitude as PANi. Graphite/ICP composites have also been touted as possible electrode materials in rechargeable batteries and have numerous other applications. The exploration of graphite/PANi composites in our research lab has yielded conducting composites which exhibit conductivities greater than the graphite or PANi alone. In addition to higher conductivities, these graphite/PANi composites exhibit controllable conductivities as a function of pH.