Nucleation of polyaniline nano-/macrotubes from anilinium composed micelles.

A mechanistic study on the nucleation of polyaniline nanotubes (PANI-NT) through template-free method is explored by in situ solution-state (1)H NMR experiments via a careful analysis of the spectral evolution of the major species in the course of the reaction. Before polymerization, aniline and salicylic acid have assembled into loosely packed micelles due to electrostatic interactions and the proton exchange reaction between aniline and anilinium. A three-stage polymerization with a formation, accumulation of aniline dimers, as well as a generation of phenazine-like oligomers is observed, which can be attributed to the monomer transformation from neutral aniline molecules to anilinium cations and the significantly lowered pH in the reaction. Strong π-π stacking interactions from the phenazine-like oligomers facilitate the intermolecular aggregation which initiates the formation of PANI-NT. At first, such aggregates, locating at the outermost layer of anilinium composed micelles, shield in situ formed protons from releasing into the aqueous bulk but into the micelle instead. Due to the continuously increased charge in the micelle, a sphere-to-rod structural transition occurs which leads the oligomer aggregates to be sheathed at the exterior of the rod. Further consumption of anilinium in the micelle leaves the internal cavity while the fusion between the micelles elongates the length of the tubes. Our work demonstrates that (i) loosely packed anilinium composed micelles, highly mobile monomers within the micelle, and efficient blockage of the proton-releasing to the aqueous bulk are three key factors for the generation of tubular structures; and (ii) dynamic NMR line shape analysis provides a new perspective for resolving the formation profile of nanostructured polymers.