Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Polyaniline-Based Composites within a Sandwich Structure Device for Flexible Electronics Application

Abstract

This study describes the manufacturing and characterization of polyaniline (PANI) based composites targeted at flexible electronics and their application in a sandwich style device architecture. The fundamental methodology was the production of conducting PANI and PANI-Bismuth Ferrite composite by a chemical oxidative in-situ polymerization technique. These synthesized powders were further processed into stable and processable conductive inks, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium silicate being used as binders and stabilizers. In order to measure electrical performance, a flexible copper and aluminum substrate was electrolessly deposited with these inks to form a sandwich-structure device to be used as an active layer placed between conductive contacts. The FTIR results established the achievement of the production of PANI along with its composite with BiFeO3. A characteristic movement of functional groups meant that BiFeO3 and PANI interacted heavily on the composite structure. All three pure components as well as the final composite were characterized fully using current-voltage (I-V) characterization. The I-V analysis confirmed a non-linear, semiconducting type of PANI and amplified a discrete rectifying, diode like characteristic of the BiFeO3. More importantly, the PANI-BiFeO3 composite had a characteristic non-linear, asymmetric I-V curve, which is an indication of successful functional combination. This was supported more by optical analysis using UV-Vis spectroscopy and Tauc plots to get band gaps of PANI, BiFeO3, and a different one was a modified 2.83 eV in the composite.The combination of all results justifies the PANI-BiFeO3 composite as an ideal candidate in the development of workable and bendable electronic components and has laid a scale-dependent production path in addition to providing initial insights regarding the electro-optical behavior which will be useful in the design of flexible sensors, energy storage, and portable devices.