Polyaniline micro-/nanostructures: morphology control and formation mechanism exploration

This article provides a brief overview of recent work by the authors' group as well as related researches reported by others on controlling the morphology and exploring the formation mechanism of typical micro-/nanostructures of polyaniline (PANI) and aniline oligomers through template-free aniline chemical oxidation process. The contents are organised as follows: (i) tuning the morphology of aniline polymerisation products by employing ultrasonic irradiation, mass transfer, and pH profiles; (ii) exploring the formation mechanism of micro-/nanostructures during aniline chemical oxidation through examining the precipitation behaviours of aniline oligomers and polymers in a post-synthetic system; (iii) tailoring PANI micro-/nanostuctures into pre-designed morphology by introducing certain heterogeneous nucleation centres; (iv) application potential of PANI nanofibres in the areas of transparent conductive film, electromagnetic interference-shielding coating and graphene-based electrode materials. This short review concludes with our perspectives on the challenges faced in gaining the exact formation mechanism of PANI micro-/nanostructures and the future research possibility for morphologically precisely controlled PANI micro-/nanostructures.