A polyaniline/graphene nanocomposite prepared by in situ polymerization of polyaniline onto polyanion grafted graphene and its electrochemical properties

Abstract

Poly(sodium 4-styrensulfonate), a polyanion, was grafted onto reduced graphene oxide (RGO-g-PSSNa) by in situ radical polymerization and was then chemically reduced with hydrazine hydrate. The RGO-g-PSSNa was characterized by infrared, ultraviolet-visible, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies as well as thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results prove that the poly(sodium 4-styrensulfonate) was grafted onto the reduced graphene oxide nanosheets. RGO-g-PSSNa forms a more stable aqueous suspension than a reduced graphene oxide/poly(sodium 4-styrensulfonate) blend. The degree of grafting in the RGO-g-PSSNa can be adjusted by changing the amount of the initiator. A polyaniline/RGO-g-PSSNa nanocomposite was prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of RGO-g-PSSNa, and the electrochemical properties of the composite were studied with cyclic voltammetry.