Synthesis and Characterization of Polyaniline:TiO2Nanocomposites

Abstract Thin films of polyaniline (PANi) and PANi:titanium oxide (TiO2) composites have been synthesized by sol—gel spin coating technique. The TiO2 powder of particle size 50–60 nm was synthesized by sol–gel technique and the polyaniline was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline. The composite films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-vis spectroscopy, and the results were compared with polyaniline films. The intensity of the diffraction peaks for PANi:TiO2 composites is lower than that for TiO2. The characteristic FTIR peaks of PANi were found to shift to a higher wave number in the PANi:TiO2 composite. These observed effects have been attributed to the interaction of TiO2 particles with PANi molecular chains. The room temperature resistivity of polyaniline:nano-TiO2 composite is 3.43 × 103 Ω cm and the resistivity of pure nano-TiO2 particles is 1.60 × 106 Ω cm. Keywords: FTIRpolyanilinesol gelspin coatingTiO2 X-ray diffraction The author (VBP) is thankful to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi for sanctioning Fast Track Project (SR/FTP/PS-09/2007).