Camphor Sulfonic Acid-hydrochloric Acid Codoped Polyaniline/polyvinyl Alcohol Composite: Synthesis and Characterization

A complementary dopant system formed by hydrochloric and camphor sulfonic (CSA) acids was used in the in-situ synthesis of a polyaniline (PANi)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite. The conductivity measurements showed that the use of CSA either as single dopant or codopant caused a decrement up to 2 orders of magnitude on the overall conductivity as well as an improvement on thermal stability. The PANi/PVA composites were characterized by spectro-scopic and thermal analysis. Conducting emeraldine salt formation was confirmed by UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopy. Microstructure analysis was performed by SEM imaging.