Protein-Induced Synthesis of Chiral Conducting Polyaniline Nanospheres

A green and novel method for the synthesis of chiral conducting polyaniline was developed. Chiral polyaniline induced by protein was obtained by using the template-assisted polymerization route. The experimental results demonstrated that proteins such as bovine hemoglobin and bovine serum albumin had the capacity to direct enantio specificity of PANI which may be ascribed to the α-helix structure within the proteins. The achieved chiral conducting polyaniline exhibited nanometered, spherical shape according to scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images. Moreover, the high degree of crystallinity and conductivity of chiral polyaniline induced by protein was acquired.