Preparation and characterization of nanocomposite between poly(aniline-co-m-chloroaniline)–copper sulfide nanoparticles

One dimensional nanostructures of poly(aniline-co-m-chloroaniline) nanocomposite (NC) with CuS nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by template free method. CuS NPs are prepared by chemical method by using trisodium nitilotriacetate acid as a complexing agent. The materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The hexagonal structure of CuS NPs is confirmed from XRD results with lattice parameters, a=3.78 Å and c=16.288 Å. The diameter of CuS NPs is found to be 16 nm from TEM measurements. Different shapes such as NPs, nanorods and nanotubes structures are observed for poly(aniline-co-m-chloroaniline) whereas its NC with CuS NPs have nanorod and nanotube shapes. Significant shift in the absorption edge of CuS NC is observed in comparison with copolymer and CuS NPs. Also the thermal stability of CuS NC is improved as compared with a copolymer and CuS NPs.