Conducting IPN Based on Polyaniline and Crosslinked Cellulose

Polyaniline/crosslinked cellulose conductive interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by oxidative polymerization of aniline within the self-synthesized cellulose network using ammonium persulphate as oxidant. The conductivity of the IPN increases and then decreases with decrease in the aniline/(NH₄)₂S₂O₈ ratio, with increase in the HCl/aniline ratio, with increase in aniline content, as well as with increase in reaction time. In addition, the conductivity of the films strongly depends on the amount of tetraethyl orthosilicate crosslinker. In comparison with polyaniline/cellulose acetate composites, the conductivity increases by an order of one to two magnitudes in spite of the lower polyaniline content in this work. © of SCI.