Polyaniline (PANI) is a conductive polymer that shows excellent promise for numerous applications including gas sensors, electrodes and thin film bulk heterojunction solar devices. In order to improve photoefficiencies in organic polymer photovoltaics, it is crucial to understand how nanoparticle-polymer interactions affect composite nanomorphologies and resultant physical properties. To this end we have employed Laponite nanoparticles, vanadium oxide, and varied morphosynthetic conditions to direct the facile self-assembly of PANI nanostructures within acidic aqueous phases.  We have also incorporated Laponite-PANI films into bulk heterojunctions to study how localized nanoparticle/polymer morphologies influence photophysical properties.  Herein we report atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies to explore the effects of Laponite nanoparticle inclusion on the morphology of PANI domains. AFM, SEM, and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) experiments indicate that Laponite nanodiscs enhance water-processability and direct PANI self-assembly and dimensionality.

Directing polyaniline self-assembly using Laponite nanoparticles

247th National Meeting (2014)

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