Synthesis, characterization, and conductivity studies of poly-o-methoxyaniline intercalated into V2O5 xerogel

In this work we study the conductivity properties of poly-omethoxyaniline/V2O5 intercalation compounds obtained through intercalative polymerization of o-methoxyaniline with V2O5.nH(2)O in hydrogel form and by reacting directly with V2O5 film in de-hydrated form (xerogel). These new compounds were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopies, electron paramagnetic resonance, elemental analysis (C, N, H), thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, de-conductivity and powder Xray diffraction. For samples formed from V2O5 xerogel in film form, an increase in dc-conductivity and a decrease in the thermal activation energy in comparison with pure matrix was observed. The increase in conductivity is attributed to an increase of carrier density in the vanadium oxide lattice and the contribution of polarons from the polymer. On the other hand, for the intercalation compound obtained with V2O5-nH(2)O in hydrogel form presents a very low room temperature conductivity value. The decrease in conductivity is due to the lack of connectivity of the various parts that compose the material. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).