Inverted emulsion cast electrically conducting polyaniline–polystyrene blends

An inverted emulsion method for the synthesis of electrically conductive polyaniline–polystyrene blends of different compositions (10, 30, 50, 70, and 85%, wt/wt) is described. Polymerization of aniline is carried out in chloroform in the dispersed phase by using benzoyl peroxide as a novel oxidant and sulfosalicylic acid as the dopant. The blends synthesized with benzoyl peroxide as the oxidant are of high purity and the excess benzoyl peroxide is readily removed with acetone, which is used to break the emulsion and precipitate the polymer. The absorption spectra, FTIR, FT Raman, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy confirm the presence of polyaniline in the salt form and polystyrene in the blend. The thermal stability of polyaniline salt decreases with an increase in polystyrene content in the blend. The SEM studies show that the particles of polyaniline–sulfosalicylic acid are dispersed on the polystyrene surface. The blends of polyaniline–polystyrene prepared by the present method were found to display conductivities as high as 0.5–0.1 S cm −1 .