Synthesis and characterization of SnO2/polyaniline nanocomposites by sol–gel technique and microemulsion polymerization

Nanostructured SnO2 was prepared based on the sol–gel method. Aniline monomer was polymerized by microemulsion polymerization in the presence of nanocrystalline SnO2 to form inorganic–organic nanocomposite materials, in which SnO2 nanoparticles were embedded within porous polyaniline (PANI). Structural and morphological characterization of SnO2 and SnO2/PANI was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD pattern suggested that PANI did not modify the crystal structure of SnO2. FT-IR spectrum proved that aniline was successfully composited with the nanostructured SnO2. TEM analysis showed that the SnO2 nanoparticles with a diameter of ca. 15 nm were embedded well in the porous PANI. Conductivity analysis indicated that the SnO2/PANI nanocomposites had a higher conductivity than that of the pure SnO2 nanopowders.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We prepared nano SnO2/PANI by sol–gel process and microemulsion polymerization. ► SnO2 nanoparticles were embedded well in the porous PANI. ► The conductivity of SnO2/PANI nanocomposites is 1.75 × 10−1 S/cm.