Chemical and electrochemical synthesis of polyaniline micro- and nano-tubules

Micro- and nano-structures composed of polyaniline (PANi) have been prepared by chemical and electrochemical oxidative polymerization of aniline within the pores of particle track-etched membranes (PTM). Their morphology has been studied by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Hollow tubules are formed because PANi initially deposits on the surface of the pore walls. Raman spectroscopy was used to probe the oxidative state of PANi in order to optimize the chemical polymerization conditions with respect to the electrical conductivity. The nanoscopic materials show an enhancement of the electronic conductivity compared to analogous polymer bulk conductivity.