The role of DNA in PANI–DNA hybrid: Template and dopant

We exposed a novel method by using DNA as the dopant as well as template at the same time to prepare PANI–DNA hybrid micro/nanowires with conductivity as high as ∼10−2 S cm−1. The high conductivity is due to the co-doping function of DNA with HCl produced by FeCl3. It is found that the morphology and conductivity of the PANI–DNA hybrids are affected by the [DNA]/[AN] ratio due to the co-operation and competition of DANʹs dopant and template function, and the role of DNA in PANI–DNA hybrid varies with the changing of [DNA/[AN] ratios.