A novel templateless method to nanofibers of polyaniline derivatives with size control

Poly(o-toluidine) (POT) nanofibers with controllable size (see figures) have been successfully synthesized through a chemical polymerization method in acidic aqueous solution using HAuCl4 as the oxidant instead of conventionally used ammonium persulfate without any external template for the first time. The gold nanoparticles generated during the polymerization processes are considered to act as catalysts to the oriented growth of POT nanofibers. The extension of this approach to nanofibers of other polyaniline derivatives, such as poly(o-methoxyaniline) is also successful, which suggests this is a general chemical route to nanofibers of polyaniline derivatives.