University of Manitoba

Insun Yu

Bhavana A Deore

Michael Freund

A substituted polyaniline whose self-doped state can be controlled via complexation between boronic acid groups along the backbone with D-fructose in the presence of fluoride is described. For the first time, this allows the formation of a water-soluble, self-doped conducting polymer under the polymerization conditions. In turn this facilitates the growth of polyaniline over a wider pH range.

Switchable self-doped polyaniline

A method for producing a polymer comprising reacting a fluoride and a monomer having a boronic acid moiety, or a salt thereof, in acidic aqueous solution and/or in an aliphatic alcohol. Polymerization occurs with the addition of an oxidizing agent. The method may further comprise the step of purification of the polymer by centrifugation with 0.5 M HCl and/or dispersion of the polymer in a solvent. The polymer has a morphology tunable by changing the solvent.

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Insun Yu