Studies of electrical properties of polyaniline irradiated by X-rays

Recent development and studies of physical and chemical properties of the conducting polymers have been calling the interest of many scientists. Among this group of materials, the polyaniline (PANI) deserves special attention because of its high chemical and thermal stability under normal conditions, simple process of polymerization and low cost. This polymer is also known due to its strongly pronounced and well studied electrochemical characteristics. In the present work, the variations of the electrical resistance of polyaniline caused by X-rays radiation have been studied. The polymer has been synthesized by electrochemical method in stainless steel and graphite electrodes. The data concerning the electrical resistance of PANI were measured just after the synthesis. This has been performed in the water solution of sulfuric acid within monomer of aniline where the polyaniline has been submitted to the applied voltages in the range from 200mV to 600mV. Polymeric samples have been irradiated using the X-rays with the energy 50keV and 100keV. After the irradiation, the electrical measurements have been repeated. The whole experimental procedure was performed several times. The obtained results have clearly shown the potential of polyaniline as a dose sensitive material that could be applied as a radiation sensor.