Novel polyaniline–halloysite nanoclay hybrid composites: Synthesis, physico-chemical, thermal and electrical properties

Polyaniline-halloysite nanoclay composites (PHC) were prepared for the first time. An inverted emulsion polymerization technique was employed with benzoyl peroxide (BP) as an oxidizing agent. The vibration bands caused by the stretching of the NH, benzenoid, and quinoid rings were seen in the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of hybrid composites. Pure PANi has a specific conductance of 1.6954 S/cm, while the specific conductance of composites decreased as the halloysite nanoclay (HNC) concentration increased. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of composites showed peaks at 20.08⁰ and 25.34⁰. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) thermographs of composites showed improvement in thermal resistance compared to PANi. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) picture of composites shows an agglomeration of the PANi particles and coating of PANi on HNC. The AC specific conductance value raises as a result of the creation of bipolar and polarons. Increase in frequency, the dielectric constant decreased. The highest dielectric constant was observed for PHC (70/30) with the value ranging from 14 at 10² Hz.