Conducting composite cryogels based on poly(aniline-co-p-phenylenediamine) supported by poly(vinyl alcohol)

•Poly(aniline-co-p-phenylenediamine) cryogel pore size depends on composition.•Optimal comonomer ratio allows improving cryogels mechanical properties.•The cryogels combine good conductivity with excellent mechanical integrity. Poly(aniline-co-p-phenylenediamine) cryogels stabilized by poly(vinyl alcohol) were prepared by one-step oxidative cryocopolymerization. Composite cryogels have macroporous structure with pore sizes up to tens of micrometers; however, copolymer cryogels have smaller pores compared to homopolymer cryogels. The cryogels containing 70 mol% and 80 mol% of aniline have the smallest pores and have the highest mechanical stability. The decrease in aniline fraction led to decrease of conductivity from 5×10–2 S cm–1 for polyaniline-based cryogel to