Effect of dopant on the morphological and electrical properties of polyaniline/MCM-41 nanocomposites

The novel organic-inorganic nanocomposite was prepared with polyaniline (PANI) and mesoporous MCM-41 by the polymerization of aniline hydrochloride monomer. The structural, crystalline and Raman results confirmed the formation of the nanocomposites through the interaction between PANI molecules and MCM-41. DC conductivity of the nanocomposites was significantly affected by the incorporation of HCl doped PANI molecules into PANI/MCM-41 nanocomposites. It was observed that the undoped polyaniline/MCM-41 nanocomposite presented an electrically insulating DC conductivity of the order of 10^-13 ohm^-1 cm^-1 and after the introduction of HCl doped PANI molecules into MCM-41, the proton conductivity reached the order of 10 ^-3 ohm^-1 cm^-1.