Synthesis and electrical properties of polyaniline/iota-carrageenan biocomposites

Polyaniline/iota-carrageenan (ι-CGN) biocomposites were synthesized via in situ methodology using ammonium persulfate as the oxidizing agent. Both ionic (band at 1131 cm(-1)) and hydrogen bond (bands at 2500 and 3500 cm(-1)) interactions between polyaniline and ι-CGN were determined by infrared spectroscopy. Such intermolecular interactions provided the biocomposites with a cross-linked structure that provided the materials with hydrogel behavior. Biocomposite electro-conductivity, determined by the 4-probe technique, was in the range of semiconductors (10(-3) to 10(-2) S cm(-1)); whereas electro-activity, assessed by cyclic voltammetry, showed the oxidation-reduction transitions typical of polyaniline. Based on the properties of polyaniline and ι-CGN, some applications for the new materials in the field of biosensor design, electrochemical capacitors, or tissue engineering scaffolds are possible. It is worth saying that both electro-conductive and electro-active properties of polyaniline/ι-CGN biocomposites are reported here for the first time.