Influence of Binary Oxidant (FeCl<sub>3</sub>:APS) Ratio on the Spectroscopic and Microscopic Properties of Poly(2,5-Dimethoxyaniline)

Poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) (PDMA) has been synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization technique using varying ratio (wt/wt) of binary oxidants; ferric chloride (FeCl3) and ammonium persulfate (APS). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible (Uv-vis) spectroscopic investigations provide the evidence of the presence of both benzenoid and quinoid ring units. The thermal analysis and structural characterization data suggests that the oxidant ratio greatly controls the molecular ordering in PDMA. Surface morphology shows the existence of both amorphous and crystalline domains wherein the crystalline domain size depends on the oxidant ratio. The dc conductivity (σdc) of PDMA is also a function of binary oxidant ratio and at FeCl3:APS (50:50), it increases by two orders of magnitude. Films of PDMA synthesized using FeCl3:APS (50:50) binary oxidant exhibits a decrease in the surface current on exposure to ammonia gas.