The effect of thermal treatment on the electrical conductivity and durability of p-TSA doped polyaniline (PANI) coated polyester fabrics / Anis Ameera Anizaim

A flexible and highly conductive fabric can be applied for wearable electronics without
degradation its conductivity. This study explores the thermal treatment and discovers
the effect on conductivity and durability of Polyaniline (PANI) coated on polyester
fabrics. Consequently, to enhance the conductive fabric, 0.9 wt% of p-toluenesulfonic
acid (p-TSA) as a doping agent was added into the PANI solution. The presence of acid
transformed the colour of PANI-Emeraldine Base (EB)(blue) to PANI-Emeraldine Salt
(green). White polyester (PES) fabrics were thermally heated in dimethyl sulfoxide
(DMSO) at 20°C, 40°C, 80°C and 130°C, then immediately immersed the fabrics in
PANI-ES solution for 15 minutes. The characteristics of the fabrics were then
characterized using Electro Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Scanning Electron
Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy (FTIR). For durability tests, washing, rubbing and perspiration were used.
The optimum conductivity was found at 40°C, which was 2.17 × 10-4 ± 1.53 × 10-6
Scm-1. SEM analysis revealed the distribution of precipitated was decreased as the
heated temperature increased due to the aggregation of polymer on fibres surface.
Additionally, the post-washing test increase the conductivity as Na+ protonate PANI
polymer, but PANI/PES fabrics visualize colour changes turned green after 2 cycles of
washing. The rubbing test resulted in poor adhesion with stained ratings 3 and 3.5 for
dry and wet rub conditions. The perspiration test impacts the increased conductivity as
Na+ protonates the PANI and decreases its conductivity after prolonged exposure to the
perspiration solution. Collectively, this study has successfully thermally fabricated to
present the conductivity and durability of PANI on PES fabrics.