Inverse emulsion polymerization: a new route for the synthesis of conducting polyaniline

An inverted emulsion process for the synthesis of the emeraldine salt of polyaniline (Pani) using a novel oxidizing agent namely benzoyl peroxide is described. The polymerization is carried out in a non-polar solvent in the presence of four different protonic acids as dopants and an emulsifier (sodium lauryl sulphate). The polymer salts were characterized spectroscopically by UV–VIS, FT-IR, FT-Raman and EPR. Thermal method namely TGA was employed to determine the stability of the salts and the activation energy for the polymer degradation. The conductivity of the salts were found to be of the order of 10⁻¹ S cm⁻¹.