Nano Na-Montmorillonite @ Polyaniline Hybrid Composite: Effect of Nano Na-Montmorillonite Content on Structure, Thermal Stability and Electrical Properties

As a trial of enhancing the physical properties (Especially thermal and electrical ones) of polyaniline, different concentrations of nano Na-Montmorillonite [(0.1, 0.33, 0.62 gm) corresponding to different weight percentages of aniline (5, 12, 32 wt. %)] were incorporated into polyaniline matrix to synthesize polyaniline hybrid composites using in situ chemical polymerization method. In this method, the ammonium persulphate dropping reaction was performed in 12 h. under temperature of 0–5 °C.

The above used concentrations of nano Na-Montmorillonite were chosen to study the effect of addition in the low range. All polyaniline hybrid composites samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra—red spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). All structural characterization confirmed the formation of polyaniline hybrid composites. The composite containing 0.62 gm of nano Na-Montmorillonite (32 wt.% aniline) exhibited good interactions of nano Na-Montmorillonite with polyaniline matrix. This sample exhibited the highest thermal stability compared to other ones as it has the lowest rate of weight loss. The same composite sample exhibited the highest AC- conductivity value (ơ_AC = 1.12 × 10^–5 Ω⁻¹. cm⁻¹, at room temperature) compared to the other ones. Also, the bulk conductivity value was of 8.33 × 10 ⁻⁶ Ω ⁻¹.cm ⁻¹ at room temperature. The Na-MMT ability of inducing a more efficient network formation for charge transport in the base PAn—matrix results in high conductivity values. The efficient network formation in presence of Na-MMT is originated from the additionally generated extended states and charged defects with electronic structures. All other results of this sample was good and exhibited the ability of its use as a promised one for different applications of energy storage systems.