Fluorescent, water dispersible polyaniline and its composites with carbon nanotube

Abstract

A new kind of fluorescent nanofibrillar polyaniline (NF-PANI) derivative is synthesized, characterised and composites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) prepared. With the introduction of a small amount of a synthesized carbazole derivative (fig 1.) in the oxidative polymerization of aniline a nanosturctured polyaniline is achieved which shows fluorescence even in the doped (emeraldine salt) state in water dispersions (fig 2.). This strategy was also used in the preparation of composites in presence of MWNTs, which also showed nanostructure, water-dispersability and fluorescence. Results concerning fluorescent behaviour of the materials in different pH conditions, concentrations and MWNT content will be presented. These new PANI and PANI-MWNT composites result very promising because of their interesting combination of properties: electrical conductivity, electrochemical activity, fluorescence and water dispersability.