Exploring Structural, Thermal, Optical, and Electrical Dynamics in Polyaniline/Li‐Doped NiO Composites for Optimized Charge Transport and Photocatalytic Performance

Polyaniline/Li‐doped NiO (P‐LN) composites were fabricated through in situ oxidative polymerization, with XRD and FTIR confirming their successful formation. FE‐SEM images revealed a porous, nanofiber‐like morphology, while EDX verified the presence of all constituent elements. TGA analysis indicated that thermal stability improved with increasing LN content, likely due to strong interactions between the oxide phase and the PANi matrix. The band gap of PLN4 was determined to be 2.77 eV, with PL spectra exhibiting a redshift as the optical transition energy narrowed. Electrical measurements demonstrated enhanced AC conductivity and efficient charge transport with higher LN incorporation, with the composite containing the maximum LN content outperforming pure PANi in conductivity. Photocatalytic studies highlighted a peak dye degradation efficiency of 94.50%, with recyclability maintaining over 92% after four cycles.