Hyperbranched polyaniline: A new conductive polyaniline with simultaneously good solubility and super high thermal stability

How to synthesize a conductive polymer with simultaneously good solubility and high thermal stability is still a challenge. A new hyperbranched polyaniline (HSiPA) was synthesized through a ring-opening reaction between hyperbranched polysiloxane (HSi) and polyaniline (PA). The structure and properties of HSiPA were also characterized. Compared with PA, HSiPA has significantly improved solubility and thermal stability as well as good electric conductivity. Specifically, PA is only soluble in polar solvents, while HSiPA has improved solubility in weak polar or non-polar solvents, especially tetrahydrofuran and CH2Cl2. The initial decomposition temperature of HSiPA is as high as 360 degrees C, about 78 degrees C higher than that of PA. These attractive performances of HSiPA are attributed to its unique structure that inherits the advantages of hyperbranched polymers, polysiloxane and PA. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.