Poly(acrylonitrile-co-itaconic acid)-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and poly(3-methoxythiophene) nanoparticles and nanofibres

Abstract

This work aimed to produce poly(acrylonitrile-co-itaconic acid) (P(AN-co-IA)) nanocomposites with poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly(3-methoxythiophene) (PMOT). An anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate was used in emulsion polymerization for nanocomposite production. Incorporations of PEDOT and PMOT on the nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and ultra-violet spectroscopy. These nanoparticles were blended with PAN and the blends were electrospun to produce P(AN-co-IA)-polythiophene-derivative-based nanofibres, and the obtained nanofibres were characterized by SEM and energy dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, electrochemical impedance studies conducted on nanofibres showed that PEDOT and PMOT in matrix polymer P(AN-co-IA) exhibited capacitive behaviour comparable to that of ITO-PET. Their capacitive behaviour changed with the amount of electroactive polymer.