Modified palygorskite-polythiophene (MPA-PTh) composites were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of palygorskite (PA) nucleartor with thiophene (Th) after the surface modification with -(2,3-epoxypropoxy) propytrimethoxysilane (KH-560). The MPA-PTh composites were doped in iodine vapor to create the porous palygorskite-polythiophene (PMPA-PTh) conductive composites. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET) and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) techniques were applied to characterize the modified PA and the prepared composites. According to FTIR and XPS, the KH-560 was bound to the PA surface and the iodine ion (I3- and I5-) entered the PTh molecular chains. XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, and EIS analysis confirmed that the doping of iodine not only transform the core-shell MPA-PTh into the PMPA-PTh but also improve the electrical conductivity of composites. The PMPA-PTh composites were fabricated that yield a volume resistivity of approximate to 2.44 x 102 cm and a internal resistances of approximate to 100 , and their BET surface area, BJH (Barrett-Joiner-Halenda) average pore size and BJH cumulative pore volume were improved in comparison with those of the MPA-PTh composites. SEM images showed that the PMPA-PTh composites could form consecutive space network and the PMPA-PTh composites acrylic coating films had advisable conductivity. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013