Conducting Polyaniline/Natural Clinoptilolite Nanocomposite: Preparation and Characterization

The navel conducting nanocomposite of polyaniline (PANI) with Iranian (from Mianeh mine) natural clinoptilolite (Clino) was prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of anilinium cations in the presence of clinoptilolite dispersion. Formation of nanocomposite and incorporation of polyaniline into the clinoptilolite channels was confirmed by FTIR spectral studies and X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Clinoptilolite with cavity structure increases the electrical conductivity of nanocomposite by improving the alignment of polyaniline chains. This fact was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to the results increasing the zeolite content of PANI/Clino nanocomposite up to 0.5% w/w, increases the electrical conductivity of nanocomposite, but further increasing of zeolite content, causes to the decreasing of its conductivity, which is related to the intrinsic insulator characteristic of zeolite. Increasing and decreasing of nanocomposite conductivity versus zeolite content was also confirmed by cyclic voltammetery studies of PANI/Clino nanocomposite. The intermolecular interaction between polyaniline chains was reduced by isolation of the polyaniline chains in the clinoptilolite channels and as a result, the solubility of PANI/Clino nanocomposite in theN- methyl pyrrolidone solvent was improved.

Keywords:

Conducting Polymers , Polyaniline , Zeolite , Clinoptilolite , Nanocomposite