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Polyaniline, polydiphenylamine, and two copolymers with precursor monomers molar ratios of 1:1 and 3:1 (anilinium dodecyl sulfate (P1):diphenylamine) were synthesized via oxidative polymerization in a water/ethanol interfacial system. The morphology characterization and physicochemical properties showed that the copolymers share polyaniline or polydiphenylamine characteristics, depending on the monomer molar ratio. The electroactivity characterization indicated that the polydiphenylamine (PDPA) repeating units provided the copolymers with better cycling stability, whereas PAni repeating units reduced resistance and improved storage capacity, generating a synergistic interaction. Particularly, the copolymer with the highest content of P1, showed a specific capacitance of 341.93 F g−1, with a 74.5% capacitance retention after 500 cycles, which suggests a feasible application in electrodes for supercapacitor design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anilinium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (S1) was used as the surfactant and monomer of conductive polyaniline in the synthesis of graphite nanosheet/polyaniline (GNS/PAni) composites. First, natural graphite was subjected to mechanical grinding in a planetary mill for 2, 7, or 12 h. The characterization of the grinding products, by X-ray and Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy indicated that the graphite structure degrades with increasing time. 7 h grinding was considered as an appropriate time, because of a significant increase in surface area with moderate degradation of the material. Subsequently, for the composite synthesis, the milled graphite was dispersed in the aqueous phase and sonicated in the presence of S1. The oxidative polymerization of S1 caused the increase in surface area with an increase in the content of S1. This increase was attributed to the amphiphilic character of S1, which allowed reducing reagglomeration of the milled graphite during S1 oxidative polymerization; measurements of surface area by BET supported this result. The morphology of the PAni deposits on GNS, determined by electron microscopy, regarding the pure polyaniline obtained under equivalent conditions, showed that S1 adsorbed onto the GNS and subsequently, polymerized on the surface thereof, demonstrating the reactive character of S1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The anilinium and vinyl functional groups are selectively polymerized. • The monomer is susceptible of copolymerization via free radical polymerization. • The anilinium counterion of polystyrenesulfonate reacts by oxidative polymerization. The synthesis and polymerization of a new bifunctional monomer, benzenaminium 4-styrenesulfonate, containing a vinyl and an anilinium group are reported. The vinyl group was polymerized via conventional free radical polymerization to produce poly(benzenaminium 4-styrenesulfonate), while the anilinium group was polymerized via oxidative polymerization to produce polyaniline emeraldine base salt. The characterization of functional groups by spectroscopic techniques and morphology by electron microscopy indicated clear differences between both polymers. Additionally, poly(benzenaminium 4-styrenesulfonate) was found to be water soluble, while polyaniline was only water dispersible. A copolymer using acrylic acid as the co-monomer (synthesized via free radical polymerization) and a polyaniline-poly(benzenaminium 4-styrenesulfonate) system (synthesized via oxidative polymerization) were obtained to show the advantage of having functional groups that polymerize by a selective route in a single monomer unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]