Structures and electric properties of PANI/polymorphic-ZrO₂ composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Polyaniline (PANI) is a conductive polymer with potential applications.
• Zirconia (ZrO2) is a ceramic material with unique properties.
• Combining PANI and ZrO2 can lead to novel composite materials with enhanced functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize PANI/ZrO2 composites using an in situ method.
• To investigate the effect of different ZrO2 filler phases (amorphous, tetragonal, monoclinic, tetragonal-monoclinic) and concentrations on the electrical properties of PANI.
• To characterize the structure, morphology, and electrical behavior of the synthesized composites.

Main Methods:

• In situ synthesis of PANI/ZrO2 composites using HCl, SDBS, and APS.
• Preparation of ZrO2 fillers from natural zircon sand and commercial sources.
• Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
• Morphological observation using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Electrical property evaluation (impedance, dielectric constant, dielectric loss, AC conductivity) using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS).

Main Results:

• The filler phase significantly impacted the electrical properties of PANI/ZrO2 composites.
• Impedance values varied across different ZrO2 phases, with the tetragonal-monoclinic phase showing the highest impedance (79.59 kΩ).
• Dielectric constant and dielectric losses decreased with increasing ZrO2 content.
• AC conductivity of PANI/ZrO2 composites was lower than that of pure PANI.

Conclusions:

• The phase of the ZrO2 filler plays a crucial role in determining the electrical characteristics of PANI/ZrO2 composites.
• The synthesized PANI/ZrO2 composites exhibit tunable electrical properties based on filler type and concentration.
• This research provides insights into designing PANI-based composites for specific electrical applications.