Sulfonated polyaniline compositions, ammonium salts thereof, process for their preparation and uses thereof

A method for making a self-protonated, conducting sulfonated polyaniline composition of formula I:

• ##STR8## wherein 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, --SO.sub.3 M, --R.sub.7 SO.sub.3 M, --OCH.sub.3, --CH.sub.3, --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, --F, --Cl, --Br, --I, --(NR.sub.7).sub.2, --NHCOR.sub.7, --OH, --O.sup.-, --SR.sub.7, --OR.sub.7, --OCOR.sub.7, --NO.sub.2, --COOH, --COOR.sub.7, --COR.sub.7, --CHO and --CH, wherein R.sub.7 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, wherein the fraction of rings containing at least one R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 group being an --SO.sub.3 M, or --R.sub.7 SO.sub.3 M wherein M is an unsubstituted or substituted ammonia of the formula NA.sub.1 A.sub.2 A.sub.3 and A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 straight or branched alkyl, varies from approximately 20 percent to 100 percent;
• comprising:
• (a) dissolving a sulfonated polyaniline composition in an unsubstituted or substituted ammonium hydroxide to form a solution comprising an unsubstituted or substituted ammonium salt of the sulfonated polyaniline composition;
• (b) exposing a substrate to the solution comprising the ammonium salt of the sulfonated polyaniline composition;
• and,
• (c) converting the ammonium salt of the sulfonated polyaniline composition to the self-protonated conducting sulfonated polyaniline composition by removing water and the unsubstituted or substituted ammonia gas.