Zirconium phosphate sulfophenylphosphonate (ZPS) is an organo derivative of α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP). Since its strongly hydrophilic -SO 3 H group promotes swelling, ZPS can be employed as a template for aniline; the molecular complex can be polymerized to polyaniline (PAN). The structure of the ZPS-doped PAN (PAN-ZPS) is shown to have the typical spectral features of an emeraldine salt, as confirmed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS), infrared (IR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The 3 1 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) spectra of PAN-ZPS confirmed that the polyanilines were doped with ZPS. The thermal stability for ZPS-doped PAN is stable up to 250°C; their conductivities dropped significantly at this temperature.