Radiation-induced synthesis, electrical and optical characterization of conducting polyaniline of PANI/ PVA composites

Abstract

This study employs the gamma radiation technique to produce conducting polyaniline from an aqueous solution. The solution comprises four materials: ANI, PVA, CaCl2 and distilled H2O, which serve as a binder or film support, precursor, Cl ions provider, and a solvent. To obtain the conducting polyaniline (PANI/PVA) composite, a film of ANI/ PVA/ CaCl2 was subjected to gamma radiation under ambient conditions. Conducting polyaniline composite was seen to form once the colour began to change from white to green in accordance with the doses of radiation. The results demonstrated that the level of gamma radiation increased to 30 KGy, thereby confirming that the electrical insulation ANI/ PVA/ CaCl2 film was converted into electrically conductive polyaniline composite film. In addition, the measurements of UV–Visible spectrophotometer revealed an absorption band of 795 nm rises alongside the radiation dose which produced PANI/PVA with a green hue that increases in intensity in accordance with rises in the doses of radiation.