Electrically conductive nanocomposites made from cellulose nanofibrils and polyaniline

Electrically conductive nanocomposites from cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were successfully produced by in situ polymerization of aniline onto CNF, and studied by open circuit potential (Voc), four probe direct current (dc) electrical conductivity, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The oxidative polymerization of aniline using ammonium peroxydisulfate in hydrochloric acid aqueous solutions was realized by the addition of nanofibrils leading to an aqueous suspension of CNF coated with polyaniline (PANI). This procedure lead to stable, green suspensions of CNF coated with PANI in the emeraldine oxidation state as demonstrated by Voc and UV-Vis analyses. Electrically conductive films of this cellulose nanocomposite could be cast from aqueous solutions with conductivity close to the conducting polymer, yet with the potential for more useful flexible films.