Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes of Polyaniline and Sulfonated Poly(phenylene oxide)

The oxidative polymerization of aniline is studied for the first time in the presence of sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide). The polymerization leads to the formation of polyaniline-sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) interpolyelectrolyte complexes in which polyaniline is in the protonated form (as emeraldine salt). It is shown that the polyaniline–sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) complexes, depending on their composition, have either only proton conductivity from 0.015 to 0.1 S/cm, or mixed electronic-proton conductivity (10 –6 S/cm electronic conductivity and 0.015 S/cm proton conductivity), or only electronic conductivity (up to 10 –2 S/cm).