Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of poly(aniline-co-1-amino-9,10-anthraquinone), a nanosized conducting copolymer

The electrochemical copolymerization of aniline (ANI) with 1-amino-9,10-anthraquinone (1-AAQ) was carried out in 4 M sulfuric acid by potential cycling in the potential range of −0.1 V to 1.3 V vs. SCE. Copolymer films were grown from different feed ratios of ANI and 1-AAQ (0.2:0.8, 0.4:0.6, 0.5:0.5, 0.6:0.4, 0.8:0.2) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Studies on the effect of scan rate on the conductivity of the copolymer film confirmed the formation of a stable conducting copolymer film. The FTIR spectrum recorded for the copolymer film provides concrete evidence of copolymer formation, since it indicates the presence of quinone units in the copolymer backbone. XRD data (particle size: 47 nm) and SEM (grain size: 100 nm) micrographs provide a clear picture of the nano-sized polymeric particles formed. It is envisaged that the newly reported copolymer could be a useful material for performing the catalytic reduction of oxygen in an acidic medium—a useful process for fuel cell applications.