Polyaniline–sodium montmorillonite clay nanocomposites: effect of clay concentration on thermal, structural, and electrical properties

A simple and facile method was used to synthesize polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites with sodium montmorillonite clay (Na⁺-MMT) using in situ intercalative oxidative polymerization. Aniline was admixed with Na⁺-MMT at various concentrations, keeping the aniline monomer in the reaction mixture constant. The intercalation of PANI into the clay layers was confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies in conjugation with electron microscope techniques and FTIR spectra, particularly by the narrowing of the Si–O stretching vibration band confirmed the interaction between PANI and the clay. The employed route offers the possibility to improve the thermal properties with simultaneously controlled electrical conductivity. Thermal studies show an improved thermal stability of the nanocomposites relative to the pure PANI. Depending on the loading of the clay, the room temperature conductivity values of these nanocomposites varied between 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ and 7.4 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹, with the maximum at 44 wt% PANI concentration. The decrease of electrical conductivity at high PANI concentration was ascribed to the decrease of the structural ordering of PANI in the nanocomposite.