Synthesis, characterization, and electrical properties of nanostructural polyaniline doped with novel sulfonic acids (4-{n-[4-(4-nitrophenylazo)phenyloxy]alkyl}aminobenzene sulfonic acid)

4-(n-[4-(4-Nitrophenylazo)phenyloxy]alkyl]aminobenzene sulfonic acid (Cn-AB SA, where n = 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10) as a novel dopant for conducting polymers of polyaniline (PANI) was designed and synthesized. The molecular structure of Cn-ABSA was characterized with H-1 NMR, Fourier transform infrared, and secondary-ion mass spectrometry. Nanostructures (nanotubes or nanorods) of PANI-(Cn-ABSA) were successfully synthesized with a self-assembly process in the presence of Cn-ABSA as the dopant. The morphology (shape and size) a nd conductivity of the resulting nanostructures strongly depended on the nu mber of alkyl groups (n) and, in particular, the addition of water before p olymerization. The formed micelles of aniline/Cn-ABSA/water were proposed t o be templatelike in forming PANI-(Cn-ABSA) nanostructures on the basis of the emulsion properties measured by dynamic light scattering. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.