Conducting hydrogels originating from high-pressure induced gelation of poly(vinyl alcohol) and in-situ polymerization of aniline

Conducting hydrogels were obtained through high-pressure induced gelation of poly(vinyl alcohol) aqueous solutions and subsequent in-situ polymerization of aniline (polyaniline). A study of scanning electron microscopy showed that polyaniline was homogeneously dispersed within the 3D nano-network matrix of the poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels. The UV–vis spectra and cyclic voltammetry of the hydrogels demonstrated that the high-pressure treatment had no influence on the in-situ polymerization and electrochemical feature of polyaniline. A study of electrochemical impedance indicated that the conducting hydrogels possessed electrical conductivity and potential application in the field of biomaterials and electrode materials of supercapacitors.