Radiation synthesis and characterization of poly (aniline/glycidyl methacrylate) – Ag2O nanocomposites

Abstract Gamma radiation synthesis of Polyaniline/glycidyl methacrylate [P(ANI/GMA)] and Polyaniline/glycidyl methacrylate/Ag2O (P(ANI/GMA)-Ag2O were prepared by adding different concentrations of AgNO3 to the prepared Polyaniline/glycidyl methacrylate. The formation of the function groups of P(ANI/GMA) and P(ANI/GMA)-Ag2O nanocomposites have been investigated by FT-IR. The X-ray patterns of P(ANI/GMA)-Ag2O nanocomposites showed more than crystalline peaks proving the existence of Ag2O nanoparticles within the polymeric composite at 2θ = 27.7° and 32.3°. The surface morphology and the average particle size of the prepared P(ANI/GMA) and P(ANI/GMA)/Ag2O nanocomposites have been determined using Scan electron microscope (SEM) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. The results indicate that the spherical form of Ag2O nanocomposites is predominant with average size 3.57, 5.7 and 10.3 nm for AgNO3 contents 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5%. The particle size measured by DLS was found to be 78.82 and 81.68 nm for P(ANI/GMA) and P(ANI/GMA)-Ag2O (0.3%), respectively. The electrical conductivity of P(ANI/GMA) not only increased by adding Ag2O but also by increasing Ag2O contents. The results showed that the electrical conductivity of P(ANI/GMA) increases from 1.343 × 10−3 to 0.181 × 10−2 S/cm for Ag2O contents (0.3 and 0.5)%, respectively. The aforementioned results suggest the possibility for use of P (ANI/GMA) - Ag2O nanocomposites in different industrial applications including solar cells and charge storage.