Synthesis and Characterization of Aniline and 4‐Fluoroaniline Conducting Copolymer Composites Doped with Silver Nanoparticles

Summary A new series of silver nanoparticles doped poly (aniline-co-4-fluoroaniline) nanocomposites was synthesized by chemical oxidative in-situ polymerization method. The characterization of these nanocomposites was carried out by using FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and a standard four probe conductivity method. The synthesized conducting copolymer shows good solubility in common organic solvents such as DMF and DMSO. In FT-IR spectroscopy a broad band around 1153 cm−1 corresponds to the presence of a halogen (fluoro) group. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization reveals the crystalline nature of the copolymer. The scanning electron microscopic study shows the nanolayered spherical granular particles are of agglomeration nature. The increase in conductivity is also due to the interfacial interaction of nano-scale Ag nanoparticles in the poly (aniline-co-4-fluoroaniline) matrix that leads to fast charge transfer process. It may be used in the manufacture of batteries, electrodes, electrochromic devices, photovoltaic cells, light emitting diode and biosensors etc.