Annealing effect on the electrochemical property of polyaniline complexed with various acids

The annealing effect on the electroactivity of polyaniline (PAn) complexed with various acids has been investigated. The polyaniline—p-toluene sulfonic acid complex (PAn—pTSA) and polyaniline—hydrochloric acid complex (PAn—HCl) show decreased electroactivities with annealing temperature, but the polyaniline—dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid complex (PAn—DBSA) shows an increase in electroactivity up to an annealing process of 150°C, and then a decrease at an annealing process of 180°C. The increase of the electroactivity for PAn—DBSA can be explained by an additional thermal doping of undoped DBSA with annealing. The electrical conductivities at a high temperature of 230°C are in the order of PAn—pTSA > PAn—DBSA > PAn—HCl. PAn—pTSA shows the highest conductivity because pTSA shows the most thermal stability. Decreased conductivity at a high temperature may be due to the dedoping and structural change that cannot be recovered by redoping.