UV light induces dedoping of polyaniline

Abstract

UV (Ultra-Violet) light-driven change in optical absorption of polyaniline (PANI) is reported. Irradiation of UV light to PANI/camphor sulfonic acid prepared by electrochemical polymerization allows dedoping of the PANI. Especially, UV light irradiation in the presence of a radical trap agent effectively reduces (dedoping) the PANI. The result in this study is quite simple; however, this may be a first report for light-induced dedoping (color change) of a conductive polymer.