Synthesis and electrochemical performances of dispersible polyaniline/sulfonated graphene composite nanosheets

Dispersible polyaniline/sulfonated graphene composite nanosheets have been synthesized successfully by chemical oxidation polymerization of aniline on the surfaces of sulfonated graphene. The covalently attached phenyl-SO₃H groups of sulfonated graphene can not only bind anilinium cations due to the electrostatic interaction to form uniform thin polyaniline coating by heterogeneous nucleation, but also serve as dopant for polyaniline. The sizes and morphologies of polyaniline/sulfonated graphene composite nanosheets can be controlled by tuning the mass ratios of aniline and sulfonated graphene. The resulting polyaniline/sulfonated graphene composite nanosheets can form stable dispersion in water similar to sulfonated graphene. The obtained dispersible polyaniline/sulfonated graphene composite nanosheets exhibit good electrochemical performances due to the synergistic effect between sulfonated graphene and polyaniline in comparison with sulfonated graphene and polyaniline nanofibers.