Conducting pseudo graft copolymers based on polyaniline and carbonyl-functionalized polysiloxanes: Preparation and properties

•We obtained comb-type polysiloxanes with carbonyl-functionalized side-chain.•We synthesized pseudo graft copolymers via hydrogen bonding interaction.•The sea urchin-like microspheres can be obtained.•The prepared films from DCAA displayed high conductivity of 20 S/cm.

The comb-type polysiloxanes with carbonyl-functionalized side-chains, P(Si-g-MMA), were designed and prepared by direct hydrosilylation reaction between poly(methylhydrosiloxane) (PMHS) with active hydrogen atoms and methyl methacrylate (MMA) with unsaturated bond and carbonyl-function group. By further grafting polyaniline chains to P(Si-g-MMA) via hydrogen bonding interaction, the sea urchin-like P(Si-g-MMA)-PAn microspheres were obtained and characterized by GPC, FTIR, 1H NMR, TGA and SEM. The different morphology of the P(Si-g-MMA)-PAn microspheres can be modulated by simply adjusting the volume ratio of THF to H2O in the mixed solvent during the preparation. The as-prepared P(Si-g-MMA)-PAn can form self-supporting films by solution casting from dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) with conductivity as high as 20 S/cm and available mechanical properties, which would find many applications in various fields.

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