In situ synthesis of graphene/poly(aniline‐Co‐5‐aminosalicylic acid) nanocomposites toward improved electroactivity

In this work, the novel nanofiber composites of graphene/poly(aniline‐co‐5‐aminosalicylic acid) were prepared by in situ reduction of graphene oxide (GO) followed by in situ copolymerization of aniline and 5‐aminosalicylic acid under acid conditions. The morphology, composition, microstructure, and properties of these composites can be tailored by π‐π stacking manipulation through controlling the mass ratios of GO to copolymerization monomers. The incorporation of rGO greatly improves the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites and electrochemical activity not only at acidic, but also at neutral solution, strikingly different from the behavior of pristine PANI which become electrochemically inactive from pH ≥ 4. The composite with GO/poly(aniline‐co‐5‐aminosalicylic acid) mass ratio at 8 shows excellent electrical conductivity and redox reactivity due to the synergistic effect of graphene and poly(aniline‐co‐5‐aminosalicylic acid) copolymer. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:2915–2921, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers