The chemical and physical properties of electrochemically prepared polyaniline perchlorate (PAP)

Polyaniline perchlorate (PAP) was synthesized by electrochemical oxidation from 0.2 M aniline in acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 M tetraethylammonium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte. From polarographic and cyclic voltammetry results, the values of the half‐wave potential ( E 1/2 ), transfer coefficient (α), and number of electrons related to the electrode reaction ( n ) were calculated to be 825 mV, 0.894, and 1, respectively. The morphology of the PAP film was observed by using an SEM analyzer. From thermal analysis of the PAP sample, the reaction rate ( R ) for its thermal decomposition was obtained from the TGA result and a exothermic peak at 330°C was also observed in the DSC curve. The electrical conductivity of the PAP pellet was measured at temperatures from −170 to 25°C. From a plot of conductivity vs. 1/ T , the activation energy ( E a ) was obtained to be 0.14 eV. The conduction mechanism in a pressed pellet of PAP is suggested to be electronic hopping conduction. The values of the ESR parameters were calculated from an ESR curve for PAP at room temperature.