Oxygen transport and paramagnetic properties of electrically conducting polyaniline

Summary form only given. Polyaniline is electrically conductive, air-stable and processible. In addition, polyaniline shows excellent transport properties for separation of various gas mixtures. In Particular, a remarkable oxygen permselectivity over nitrogen has been observed through the polyaniline membrane when the doping level is controlled with appropriate counter-ions. Therefore, polyaniline can be a potential membrane material for separation of oxygen and nitrogen from air. The polarons of electrically conducting polyaniline specifically interact with oxygen, resulting in enhanced oxygen solubility. The specific interaction would give rise to facilitated oxygen permeability and a high oxygen permselectivity. The high oxygen permselectivity can be observed through the polyaniline membrane, which was optimally doped with appropriate counter-ions. However, the mechanism for the facilitated oxygen transport has been poorly understood. Therefore, the facilitated oxygen transport behavior will be attempted to interpret in terms of the enhanced oxygen solubility as well as the interaction between oxygen and polaron in partially dopod polyaniline membrane.