Metal oxide-assisted chemical synthesis of poly(α-naphthylamine) and characterizations

α-Naphthylamine (NA) was chemically polymerized using peroxy disulfate (PDS) as a chemical initiator under inert atmosphere at 45 °C with vigorous stirring under various experimental conditions such as different concentrations of NA, PDS and different % weight of nanosized metal oxides like Sb₂O₃, CrO₃, V₂O₅, Al₂O₃, As₂O₃ and ammonium heptamolybdate (AHM). Chemical kinetics inferred that rate of polymerization (R_p) is 1.75 order of reaction with [NA] and 1.0 with [PDS]. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that both benzenoid and quinonoid rings built up the structure of poly(α-naphthylamine) (PNA). Added metal oxides influenced the R_p, char forming capability of PNA and conductivity too through their surface catalytic effect. AFM confirmed the presence of nanosized materials in the polymer–nanocomposite structure. HRTEM was used to confirm the nanosize of metal oxides and the intercalation of PNA chains into the basal spacing of metal oxides.