SusChemE 2015
International Conference on Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
October 8-9, 2015, Hotel Lalit, Mumbai
Novel synthesis of Cu-PANI nanocomposites and their high dielectric response
Punit K. Dhawan*1, Meher Wan2, Raja Ram Yadav1
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Department of Physics, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh-2110012, India
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721302 (WB), India
Email Addresses: punitdhawan@hotmail.com, meherwan24@hotmail.com, rryadav1@rediffmail.com
Introduction:
In the domain of materials, composites of conducting polymers and metals have dormant competence to combine two
leading cutting edge technologies to meet the challenges imposed by 21st generation technologies. These composites
significantly cover a large range of system composition of nanostructures and matrices. One innovative way is to combine two
types of nano dimensional systems, which exhibit exotic physical properties [1]. Nano-structured polyaniline in emeraldine
oxidation states has already proven its competence as a potential candidate in dielectric applications [2]. Amongst metals
Copper nanoparticles offers novel opportunities for fabricating electrochemical devices as they can facilitate electron transfer
between electro-active species and electrodes [3]. In this present communication, the novel synthesis of Cu/PANI
nanocomposites is reported through chemical route via redox reaction. Further, dielectric response of the material is observed
in the range of 102 to106 Hz frequency range at room temperature. The material exhibits exotic dielectric response due to 3D
network formation of polyaniline nanostructures and combination of metal nanoparticles.
2. Materials and Methods:
Polyaniline in emeraldine oxidation state is synthesized by oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer (Aniline; GR,
Merck Ltd.) with the help of Potassium Bi-iodate (KHIO3; GR, Merck Ltd.) as oxidant. Sodium Borohydride (NaBH 4, GR,
Merck Ltd.) are used as reducing agent for Copper sulfate to prepare the nanoparticles of Copper.
Polyaniline 3D nanostructures decorated with Copper nanoparticles inside the polymer nanowires are obtained as final
product after cleaning and washing the reaction product with distilled water and acetone. The final product was dried at 60˚C
for three hours in muffle furnace.
3. Significant Results and Discussions:
Absence of peaks corresponding to copper crystal structures in XRD implies that the metal particles are embedded inside the
entangled nanofibers network of polyaniline. It is also confirmed through scanning electron microscopy. SEM images clearly
show the formation of entangled network of polyaniline nano-networks. The synthesized 3D network of Polyaniline decorated
with Copper nanoparticles inside exhibits exotic dielectric behavior at room temperature in frequency range of 10 2 to 106 Hz at
room temperature. The permittivity has been increased appreciably with the addition of Cu content. The increase in
permittivity is due to copper nanoparticles.
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SusChemE 2015
International Conference on Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
October 8-9, 2015, Hotel Lalit, Mumbai
Figure 1: Frequency dependent dielectric constant at room temperature.
4. Conclusions:
Copper nanoparticles embedded polyaniline 3D nano-networks have been synthesized with the easy, fast and novel synthesis
method with wet chemical route using potassium bi-iodate as oxidant for polymerization. The synthesized nano-networks in
emeraldine oxidation state exhibits high dielectric response in frequency range of 10 2 to 106 Hz
References:
[1] B.L. Rivas, C.O. Sanchez, Journal of Applied Polymer Sciences (2000) 330.
[2] G. Chakraborty, K. Gupta, A. K. Meikap, P. C. Jana, Journal of Physical Sciences, Vol. 14, 2010, 207.
[3] laria Fratoddi, Iole Venditti, Cesare Cametti, Maria Vittoria Russoa, Sensors and Actuators B 220 (2015) 534.
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