Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy characterization of polyaniline films on acetate substrate

Abstract

This research examines a method for creating polyaniline (PAni) films directly onto an acetate substrate through in-situ chemical polymerization using potassium dichromate as an oxidant. Chemical composition of the PAni films were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The analysis confirmed the presence of PAni in the emeraldine salt form on the acetate substrate, indicating the successful synthesis using PDC as an oxidant. The morphology of the PAni films was investigated using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The micrographs revealed variations in the nanostructure morphology dependent on the aniline-to-PDC precursor ratio. At the aniline-to-PDC of 0.8, the films exhibited a combination of globular structures with an average diameter of 126 nm and dendritic nanostructures with a width of 71 nm. Aniline-to-PDC ratios of 1.0 resulted in globular structures with an average diameter of 105 nm and dendritic nanostructures (90 nm). PAni films prepared with aniline-to-PDC ratio of 1.2 displayed a dominant presence of globular morphology with an average diameter of 108 nm. In conclusion, the FT-IR and SEM analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of PAni on the acetate (AC) surface with observed nanostructural variations.