Preparation and characterization of attapulgite/polyaniline nanofibers via self-assembling and graft polymerization

Core–shell conducting nanofibers SAM-ATP/PANI were prepared by the encapsulation of attapulgite (ATP) template with polyaniline (PANI) after the surface modification with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the surface of ATP needle-shaped particle (SAM-ATP). The conductivity of 18.7 wt% SAM-ATP/PANI nanofibers at room temperature was determined to be (2.21 ± 0.17 S/cm), larger than pure PANI (0.47 ± 0.02 S/cm). Moreover, the conductivity stability and thermal stability of 18.7 wt% SAM-ATP/PANI nanofibers were clearly improved. These trends were accompanied by significant structural changes as evidenced by Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform IR, X-ray diffraction analysis and UV–visible spectroscopy.