Thermal stability of several polyaniline/rare earth oxide composites

Polyaniline/Nd2O3 (PANI/Nd2O3) composites were synthesized by in situ polymerization at the presence of sulfosalicylic acid (as dopant). The composites obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermal stability of the composites was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The electrochemical performance of the composites was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results of FTIR, XRD, and CV show that the structure of composite has changed greatly when Nd2O3 content is ≥0.7 g and the PANI in the composite has transformed into pernigraniline base (non-conducting state) from emeraldine base (conducting state). TG–DTG analysis indicates that the thermal stability of PANI/Nd2O3 composites was higher than the pure PANI.