Facile synthesis of exfoliated polyaniline/vermiculite nanocomposites

A series of nanocomposites that consisted of the emeraldine salt of polyaniline and layered vermiculite were prepared. The vermiculite was first delaminated with acid treatment, and then the polyaniline/vermiculite nanocomposites were prepared via in situ polymerization of monomers in the presence of vermiculite sheets. The as-synthesized polyaniline/vermiculite nanocomposite materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electrical conductivity measurement, and thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal analyses indicated that the introduction of vermiculite nanosheets showed a beneficial effect on the thermal stability of polyaniline.