Polyaniline deposition site control on microporous mixed cellulose ester membranes: Surface and in-pore polymerization

Polyaniline (PANI) was deposited on the surface and inside the pores of microporous mixed cellulose ester membranes using various chemical oxidative polymerization techniques. Resultant membranes have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy, electrical conductivity measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Each polymerization technique yielded a specific membrane morphology and extent of PANI deposition where as two-compartment cell PANI deposition technique yielded the composite membranes with PANI layer on the pore walls of the base membrane. EIS spectra revealed that ionic and electronic conduction through the composite membranes depended on the PANI deposition site and extent and its doping state.