Copolymers of aniline and nitroanilines: Part II. Physicochemical properties

By means of infrared and Raman spectroscopy with the use of element and thermogravimetry analyses, the structure of the product of cross oxidation polycondensation of aniline and o-nitroaniline in 1 M aqueous solution of HCl with the use of 0.11 M (NH4)2S2O8 as the oxidant has been studied. The most possible structure of the product (four-chain fragment with ‘head-to-tail’ junction of monomer units) has been proposed. This fragment has been modeled with the use of quantum chemistry and, in agreement with the experimental results, can be described as emeraldine with not more than 25% oxidation level. The synthesized products were used as positive electrodes in a couple with Mg negative electrode: Mg|2 M MgCl2 in H2O+CH3CN (3:1)|PANI (co-polymer) The specific capacity of 420.74 A h kg−1 and specific energy of 424.95 W h kg−1 was characteristic for the 8:2 co-polymer used as a cathode at 1.65 V tension of the open circuit and 0.75 V average voltage.