Complexation between sulphonic acid doped polyaniline and Zinc sulphonates

Polyaniline (PANI) is one of the most feasible conjugated polymers, as it is easy to synthesize and it is environmentally stable. It can be protonated using strong acids, typically sulphonic acids, leading to electrically conducting salt. We show that PANI protonated by camphor sulphonic acid is highly soluble in solid Zinc camphor sulphonate, as promoted a complexation between them. FTIR model studies using oligomeric bipyridines suggest complexation due to coordination between Zn 2+ and the sulphonates of CSA. The concept is general, valid for several sulphonic acid dopants of PANI and sevaral Zn sulphonates, and allows tailored PANI-based supermolecules.