Texture and electrical conductivity of pellets pressed from pani and pani/montmorillonite intercalate

Abstract

Polyaniline/montmorillonite (PANI/MMT) intercalate pressed into pellets using the pressure 28 MPa has been prepared in order to achieve two-dimensional conductivity which is close to pure PANI, however with improved mechanical and thermal stability (due to the presence of silicate). Structure-conductivity relationship has been investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis and diffraction patterns obtained from two perpendicular planes revealed the strong texture. The structural anisotropy led to the anisotropy in conductivity, which is much stronger for PANI/MMT than for pure PANI pellets. Anyway, the inplane conductivity is of the same order for both PANI/MMT and pure PANI pellets. The anisotropy factor, that means the ratio of in-plane conductivity and conductivity in the direction perpendicular to the pellet plane, was 328 (PANI/MMT pellet) and 6.7 (pure PANI pellet), respectively.