Chemical polymerization of aniline using periodic acid in acetonitrile

The chemical polymerization of aniline in anhydrous medium was investigated using periodic acid, H₅IO₆ as an oxidant. This is the first time that H₅IO₆ has been used as an oxidant in the chemical synthesis of conductive polymers. The product was characterized by FTIR, UV–vis spectroscopies, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and electrical conductivity measurements. EDX and thermogravimetric analysis showed that Pani includes ClO₄⁻ and iodine or iodide ion as dopants. Electrical conductivity of polyaniline with H₅IO₆ was measured as 100 S cm⁻¹. H₅IO₆ oxidant produces first IO₃⁻ and then I₂. Therefore, it could ensure both oxidation of aniline by IO₃⁻ and then doping polyaniline with I₂, without any residual oxidant contamination. I₂, which is a well known extrinsic dopant, was produced intrinsically in this study. Thus, H₅IO₆ was found to be an effective oxidant material for the chemical polymerization of aniline.