Chemical Polymerisation of Aniline in the Presence of Sericin

Abstract

A series of polyaniline/sericin composites were prepared by oxidative polymerisation of aniline in the presence of sericin. The preparation of polyaniline composites containing sericin were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. From the result of electron spin resonance spectroscopy, the electron spin concentration of the composites decreases with sericin/aniline ratio in the polymerisation. Circular dichroism absorption spectroscopy measurements revealed that sericin influences aggregation state of polyaniline. Scanning electron microscopy suggested that the polyaniline composites show granular morphology. The composites display macroporous structure after carbonization.