Encapsulation of polyaniline in 3-D interconnected mesopores of silica KIT-6

Composite material PANI/KIT-6, with polyaniline (PANI) chains encapsulated in the 3-D interconnected pore channels of mesoporous silica, KIT-6, has been synthesized via a gas-phase method. The composite formation and the presence of PANI inside the pore channels of KIT-6 were evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), small-angle X-ray scatter (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The PANI/KIT-6 composite showed good electrical conductivity (2.4 × 10−3 S/cm) due to the formation of 3-D networks of PANI inside the 3-D interconnected channels of KIT-6. The resistance of PANI/KIT-6 composite at different relative humidities (RH) was investigated. An essentially linear relationship between the relative resistance of the composite and the relative humidity of the environment was found from 11.3% to 97.3% RH.

Graphical abstractPolyaniline (PANI) was encapsulated into the 3-D interconnected pore channels of mesoporous silica, KIT-6. The composite showed enhanced electrical conductivity and potential applications in humidity sensors.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide