Effect of 1,3-phenylenediamine concentration on the properties of poly(aniline-co-1,3-phenylenediamine) cryogels

Poly(aniline-co-1,3-phenylenediamine) cryogels were prepared by a simple one-step approach involving oxidative cryopolymerization of respective comonomers in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) stabilizer. Resulting cryogels were characterized by SEM, Raman spectroscopy, conductivity and tensile measurements. The addition of small amounts (1 mol%) of 1,3-phenylenediamine into copolymerization with aniline allows for the significant increase of cryogel pore sizes without substantial change in conductivity and mechanical stability. This is the important parameter for future use of such composites cryogels in biomedicine and electrochemistry.