One-dimensional polyaniline nanostructures synthesized by interfacial polymerization in a solids-stabilized emulsion

One-dimensional polyaniline nanostructures were synthesized by interfacial polymerization in a solids-stabilized oil/water emulsion for the first time. The products were characterized with TEM, FTIR and UV-vis. FTIR analyses proved the polyaniline synthesized were of emeraldine salt form; the results of TEM showed that when MgCO3 and CaCO3 particles were used as emulsifiers, polyaniline nanofibers with an average diameter of 33 nm and nanotubes with an average outer diameter of 28 nm were obtained, respectively. Comparing to ordinary interfacial polymerization approach, our new route needed much less amount of oil phase and shorter polymerization time. A possible mechanism for the formation of one-dimensional polyaniline nanostructures was suggested.