Preparation of PANI-coated poly(styrene-co-styrene sulfonate) nanoparticles

Poly(styrene-co-styrene sulfonate) (PS-PSS) latexes have been coated with thin overlayer of polyaniline (PANI) to produce electrically conductive ‘core-shell’ particles (PANI/PS-PSS) in the size of range 30–50 nm in diameter. PS-PSS core particles were prepared by radical emulsion copolymerization and PANI was oxidatively polymerized using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) on the surface of PS-PSS latex. PANI thin overlayer was observed in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicating polymerization of aniline takes place preferably on the PS-PSS surface rather than in the aqueous bulk phase. Elemental analysis revealed that the weight percent of styrene sulfonate in PS-PSS copolymer was ca. 5.4% and the conductivities of PANI/PS-PSS pellets were greatly increased with the increase of nitrogen content. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) thermograms showed two main degradation stages beginning at 360 and 460°C that correspond to the decomposition of PS-PSS and PANI, respectively.