INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF POLYACRYLAMIDE POLYANILINE COMPOSITE AND ITS APPLICATION AS A BATTERY ELECTRODE

The composite films of polyacrylamide and polyaniline were prepared by polymerizing aniline using ammonium persulfate as an initiator in an aqueous solution containing polyacrylamide. A film was then cast from this solution. The structural, dynamic mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of these films have been studied. The infrared spectrum shows the presence of polyacrylamide as well as polyaniline in the composite film. The thermal analysis shows that the composite degrades slower than does the polyacrylamide alone. The dynamic mechanical analysis indicates that there is an increase in the glass transition temperature after the composite formation. The electrical conductivity has been found to increase by more than eight orders of magnitude. These composite films have also been suitably used as electrodes in secondary batteries. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.