Polyaniline‐Wrapped ZnO Nanorod Composite Films on Diazonium‐Modified Flexible Plastic Substrates

Vertically aligned core/shell‐like polyaniline‐wrapped ZnO nanorod composite films are prepared on diazonium‐modified biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) sheets, in two main steps. (i) The BOPET substrate is modified by grafting of 4‐aminobenzenoic groups from the in situ generated diazonium compound; (ii) ZnO nanorod/polyaniline composite film is grown on the substrates by wet chemical route followed by the preparation of polyaniline (PANI) by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline on the immobilized ZnO nanorods. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal the vertical growth and homogeneous distribution of the ZnO nanorods and their nanocomposites on the diazonium modified substrates. In contrast, the ZnO and PANI‐coated ZnO nanorods are randomly distributed on pristine BOPET. X‐ray photoelectron spectra permit to characterize the chemical nature of the aryl and the nano­composite adlayers. X‐ray diffraction analysis results indicate that ZnO nanorods retain their wurtzite structure within the nanocomposite coating. Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman indicate the presence of interaction between ZnO nanorods and PANI chains. The ZnO/PANI‐coated diazonium‐modified BOPET sheets exhibit excellent mechanical flexibility with electroconductive characteristics even in the highly bent state. This work highlights the efficiency of the interfacial chemistry of aryl diazonium salts in the preparation of nanocomposite films with outstanding morphology, adhesion, and physical properties even under mechanical stress. image