Synthesis of Uniform and Strongly Adherent Poly (Aniline-co-o-toluidine) Copolymer Coatings on Copper

Abstract

The uniform and strongly adherent poly(aniline-co-o-toluidine) (PAOT) copolymer coatings were synthesized on copper (Cu) by the electrochemical copolymerization of aniline with o-toluidine. Also the individual polymer i.e. polyaniline (PANI) and polytoluidine (POT) coatings were synthesized on Cu under cyclic voltammetric conditions. Aqueous oxalate solutions were used as the supporting electrolytes for the synthesis of PAOT, PANI and POT coatings on Cu. The resulting coatings were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques, cyclic voltammetry, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and scanning electron microscopy. The comparative study of characterization results was carried out of PAOT5, POT and PANI coatings.

The Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy studies reveal that the copolymerization of aniline and o-toluidine takes place on Cu substrates from an aqueous oxalate solutions and resulting in PAOT copolymer, there are more o-toluidine units than aniline units.