Eletrólitos em gel de polianilina e nanofibrilas de celulose.

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibrils present a great potential of applications, since they have a high aspect ratio, high crystallinity and mechanical properties, besides some important properties of cellulose as low density, biodegradability and renewability. Pure polyaniline (PAni) does not have sufficient mechanical properties for applications suchas in self-standing films, but with the incorporation of nanomaterials it is possible to improve such properties. Thus, the polymerization of aniline in the presence of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) becomes an alternative to obtaining conductive particles with mechanical properties betterthan pristine PAni. Therefore, this work aims to combine two types of materials: cellulose nanofibrils, because of their capacity to be worked in liquid suspensions and in the form of gels, and polyaniline (PAni), which in turn gives superior electrical properties to this composite material. The thermal stability, particle size and other physicochemical characteristics were evaluated according to the different PAni/CNF ratios. In addition, the syntheses of the pure polyaniline and the PAni/CNF nanocomposite were monitored through open circuit potential (Voc) measurements that undergoes changes according to the CNF concentration.