Polyaniline nanowires by electropolymerization from liquid crystalline phases

Conductive polyaniline nanowires in emeraldine form can be deposited by potentiodynamic electropolymerization from a reverse hexagonal liquid crystalline phase where one-dimensional (1D) aqueous channels can serve as space-confined reactors. Polyaniline nanowire bundles with single-wire diameter of 50–70 nm and length of several microns were obtained from surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse hexagonal liquid crystalline phase. Impedance measurement suggests improved ordering of the reverse hexagonal liquid crystal under external electric field during the electropolymerization process. This enhanced ordering appears essential for the nanowire growth. The nanowires obtained can be easily collected by a simple washing process.