The number of different nano- and micro-scale structures produced from the chemical oxidation of aniline into “polyaniline” is rivalled by few other organic materials. Small and subtle changes in reaction parameters during aniline oxidation result in nanoscale structures such as tubes, flowers and even those resembling anatomical organs and sea animals! A nanomaterial’s properties are highly dependent on its morphology so understanding polyaniline’s propensity for forming these structures is crucial towards tailoring the material for different applications as well as improving its synthetic reproducibility.
This ‘Hot’ Feature Article by Henry D. Tran from Fibron Technologies Inc. and Richard B. Kaner and co-workers from the University of California Los Angeles examines these different structures and the small and subtle changes in reaction parameters that result in their formation. They discuss some of the highly debated aspects of these processes and give their perspective on where things are headed in the years to come.
Interested in knowing more? Read for free until 6th January 2011.
The oxidation of aniline to produce “polyaniline”: a process yielding many different nanoscale structures
Henry D. Tran, Julio M. D’Arcy, Yue Wang, Peter J. Beltramo, Veronica A. Strong and Richard B. Kaner
J. Mater. Chem., 2011, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C0JM02699A, Feature Article
