High conductivity and low percolation threshold in polyaniline/graphite nanosheets composites

An easy process for the synthesis of polyaniline/graphite nanosheets (PANI/NanoG) composites was developed. NanoG were prepared by treating the expanded graphite with sonication in aqueous alcohol solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction techniques (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the structures of NanoG and PANI/NanoG conducting composites. Electrical conductivity measurements indicated that the percolation threshold of PANI/NanoG composites at room temperature was as low as 0.32 vol.% and the conductivity of PANI/NanoG composites was 420 S/cm. The percolation theory, mean-field theory, and excluded volume theory were applied to interpret the conducting properties. Results showed that the low value of percolation threshold may be mainly attributed to nanoscale structure of NanoG forming conducting bridge in PANI matrix and there exists contact resistance in the percolation network formed within PANI/NanoG composites.