Nanoscale conducting cylinders based on self-organization of hydrogen-bonded polyaniline supramolecules

Comb-shaped or hairy rodlike supramolecules can be obtained by hydrogen bon ding rigid rod polymers and amphiphilic oligomers. Here we introduce a conc ept to achieve electrically conducting acid doped PANI to allow cylindrical self-organization. PANI is doped with camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) where 4-h exylresorcinol (Hres) is hydrogen bonded to form supramolecules, which furt her undergo self-organization. The structure formation of PANI(CSA)(0.5)(Hr es)(y) complexes is discussed on the basis of small and wide-angle X-ray sc attering and electrical conductivity. Highly ordered hexagonal cylindrical structures were observed with a distance between the cylinders around 35 An gstrom. Electrical conductivity increases 2 orders of magnitude upon format ion of cylindrical structures, potentially due to confinement of PANI chain s within the cylinders. The method would then allow an easy preparation of nanoscale organic conducting wires, just by mixing the components together.