Preparation of polyaniline‐sulfate salt by emulsion and aqueous polymerization pathway without using protonic acid

Aniline was polymerized directly into polyaniline‐sulfate salt without using protonic acid in this work. Polyaniline‐sulfate salt was prepared by emulsion and aqueous polymerization pathways. The dopant i.e. sulfate ion in polyaniline‐sulfate salt was generated from ammonium persulfate which was used for oxidizing aniline. Ammonium persulfate acts both as oxidizing agent as well as protonating agent in the polymerization process of aniline to polyaniline salt. The efficiency of oxidizing and protonating power of ammonium persulfate is increased by the use of surfactant. The activity of ammonium persulfate is further increased by the use of sulfuric acid as protonic acid. It may be necessary to consider the effect of sulfate ion which is generated during the oxidation process of aniline in the chemical polymerization of aniline to polyaniline salt by ammonium persulfate either aqueous or emulsion polymerization pathway in the presence of protonic acid/functionalized protonic acid.