Nanosized effects in composites based on polyaniline and vanadium or iron oxides

Abstract

It has been established by means of elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, IR and optical spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry and EPR that, due to the nanostructure, the composites based on polyaniline (PAn) and on vanadium or iron oxides display consistent specific spectral, electrochemical, magnetic properties which are associated with intermolecular interaction with charge transfer between conducting polymer and inorganic component of the composites and with formation of the united electronic system. The nanosized effects in both composites explored possess similarity as well as distinctions. While in the PAn–V₂O₅ nanocomposite direct interaction of the polyaniline macromolecules, intercalated in the V₂O₅ galleries, with V⁵⁺ ions takes place, resulting in charge transfer, the charge transfer between polyaniline and Fe₃O₄ particles of the PAn–Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite is motivated by the fact that during the synthesis of the composite the Fe₃O₄ particles in the starting sol and in the reaction medium carry a certain surface charge which they retain in the composite, thus acting as peculiar extra dopants for macromolecules of the conducting polymer.