Polyaniline(PANI)/Ce(NO_3)_3 composite with short fiber-like shape was synthesized successfully in a poly(2-arcylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) aqueous solution. A comparison of SEM images found that short fiber-like composites can be obtained by controlling the dosage of Ce(NO_3)_3. The length and diameter of short fiber-like PANI/Ce(NO_3)_3 composite was about 630 and 200 nm, respectively. A special conjugated structure had formed via Ce^(3+) ions and –NH– group in the quinonoid ring of PANI, which was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). Short fiber-like PANI/Ce(NO_3)_3 composite exhibited a high conductivity, a large capacitance and an enhanced anticorrosion property. Linear four-probe method confirmed that the electrical conductivity of composites was improved with the presence of Ce^(3+) ions. The corrosion potential of PANI/Ce(NO_3)_3 composite increased to-79 mV at 10 wt% of Ce(NO_3)_3. Meanwhile, the minimum density of corrosion current(1.4 μA/cm^2) was also achieved.
