Self-assembled nanostructures of polyaniline doped with poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid)

A polymeric acid, poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid) (PTAA), was used as a dopant to successfully prepare self-assembled polyaniline (PANI) nanostructures oxidized by ammonium per-sulfate (APS) and FeCl3 · 6H2O as the oxidant. The diameter, crystallinity and conductivity of the PANI-PTAA nanostructures were strongly affected by the oxidant. In particular, the diameter of the nanostructures oxidized by FeCl3 · 6H2O was measured to be 20-30 nm, which was thinner than that of the nanostructures oxidized by APS (130 nm). The formation mechanism of the nanostructures was also discussed.