Doping of polyaniline by thermal acid–base exchange reaction

Conducting polyaniline (PAni) films were prepared by heat treatment of the cast film from the homogeneous solution of the emeraldine base and the ammonium or alkylamine salts of various acids in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Doping of the PAni was proceeded by the removal of the low boiling ammonia or alkylamine bases upon heating the cast film at 80–120 °C. Conductivity of the resulting PAni films was in the range between 0.01 and 5 S/cm depending on the structure and ratio of the dopants. Easy preparation of conducting composites was realized.