Latex-Like Water-Borne Polyaniline for Coating Applications

The authors report the synthesis of a polymeric complex of polyaniline that is dispersed in water as a stable suspension. The polymer, PAN:PVME-MLA, is a molecular complex of polyaniline and poly(vinylmethylether-co-maleic acid). The synthetic process leads to a stable latex-like suspension in water. The water-borne conducting polymer, once dried as a thin film on a substrate, is not dissolvable by water or other solvents. An example of piece-dyeing process is presented to show its potential for electrostatic dissipation of textile products. Another example illustrates that the material may be used as electroactive thin-films for electrochromic windows and for rechargeable battery applications.