Directional compounding of polyaniline on surface of NaFe4P12 whisker

Polyaniline (PANI)-NaFe4P12 whisker composite has been synthesized by using in situ compounding and the emulsion synthesis method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), infrared transmission spectra, UV-Vis spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis were used to characterize the NaFe4P12 whiskers, polyaniline, and the composite. The composite particles mainly consist of NaFe4P12 whiskers and a layer of polyaniline, which grows directionally on the surface of the whisker. In the composite powder, some particles with a 'brush' structure have been found. The 'hair' of the brush is polyaniline rope, consisting of several polyaniline wires about 20nm in diameter. The directional growth of polyaniline on the surface of the NaFe4P12 whisker is assumed to be caused by the formation of coordinate linkage between the top of polyaniline molecular chains and the surface of the NaFe4P12 whisker. A growth model of plyaniline directionally on the surface of skutterudite whiskers is suggested. The conductivity of the polyaniline and the composite was measured.