Enhanced and Proficient Soft Template Array of Polyaniline-TiO₂ Nanocomposites Fibers Prepared Using Anionic...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Polyaniline (PANI) is a conducting polymer with potential applications in various fields.
• Nanocomposites offer enhanced properties compared to their individual components.
• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a versatile material with unique electronic and photocatalytic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize porous TiO2-doped polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposite fibers.
• To investigate the structural, morphological, electrical, and hydrogen storage properties of the prepared nanocomposites.
• To evaluate the potential of these nanocomposites for energy storage and conversion applications.

Main Methods:

• In situ polymerization technique using an anionic surfactant in an ice bath.
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for structural analysis.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology examination.
• DC conductivity measurements and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV).

Main Results:

• The synthesized materials were porous TiO2-doped PANI and PANI nanocomposite fibers.
• Maximum DC conductivity of 5.6 S/cm was achieved for 3 wt.% PANI-TiO2 nanocomposite.
• Cyclic voltammetry revealed redox peaks at 0.93 V and 0.24 V, characteristic of PANI's semiconductor-to-conductive state transition.
• Hydrogen absorption capacity reached 10.4 wt.% for 3 wt.% PANI-TiO2 nanocomposites, with 96% capacity retention after desorption.

Conclusions:

• Porous TiO2-doped PANI nanocomposite fibers were successfully synthesized.
• The nanocomposites demonstrate significantly enhanced DC conductivity and hydrogen storage capacity compared to pure PANI.
• These findings highlight the potential of TiO2-doped PANI nanocomposites for applications requiring efficient electrical conductivity and hydrogen storage.