Comparative studies on the in-situ and ex-situ polymerization routes on Graphene derivative infused Polyaniline (PANI) Nanocomposites

Abstract

Abstract Polyaniline (PANI) as a known conducting polymer, exists in different forms, each having its properties and technological applications. PANI and PANI/Graphene Oxide (PANI/GO) composites with different compositions of GO were prepared by in-situ polymerization techniques. The synthesized PANI/GO composites were reduced to PANI/reduced Graphene Oxide (PANI/rGO) via in situ polymerization method. PANI/rGO composites were synthesized by ex-situ polymerization technique also. This research work attempts to do a comparative study of the synthesis and properties of graphene-based PANI nanocomposites. It has been characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The prime characteristic peaks from FTIR were analyzed and observed for the formation of nanocomposites. The anti-microbial properties of the polymer composites were investigated by the Agar well diffusion method using two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria – Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli. Pristine PANI shows an inhibition zone in all bacteria than PANI/GO. PANI/rGO ex-situ has more antibacterial activity than PANI/rGO in-situ composite.