A study on the influence of anionic surfactants on electrochemical degradation of polyaniline

The influence of anionic surfactants on the electrochemical degradation of polyaniline (PANI), deposited by electro-polymerization onto platinum electrodes, was investigated in an aqueous medium by means of cyclic voltammetry. The degradation rate was found to be greatly dependent on the pH of the solution. The electrochemical degradation of PANI/dodecylsulfate and PANI/dodecylbenzenesulfonate films was compared with that of a PANI/hydrochloride film. The degradation rate in the two former cases decreased by some 50% compared to the PANI/hydrochloride film in aqueous solution at pH = 2. The results were confirmed with theoretical calculations performed on the evaluation of head group charge of surfactants, the distance of anions from PANI positive sites and the shielding of anions on PANI positive sites.     

Enhancement of photoelectric catalytic activity of TiO2 film via Polyaniline hybridization

A Polyaniline (PANI)/TiO₂ film coated on titanium foil was successfully prepared using the sol-gel method followed by a facile chemisorption. Compared with pristine TiO₂, the photocatalytic (PC) and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation rates of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) with the PANI/TiO₂ film were enhanced by 22.2% and 57.5%, respectively. 2,4-DCP can be mineralized more effectively in the presence of PANI/TiO₂ film. The best PEC degradation efficiency of 2,4-DCP with the PANI/TiO₂ film was acquired at an external potential of 1.5 V with a layer of 1 nm thick PANI. The PANI/TiO₂ film was characterized by Raman spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and electrochemical analysis. These results indicated that there was a chemical interaction on the interface of PANI and TiO₂. This interaction may be of significance to promote the migration efficiency of carriers and induce a synergetic effect to enhance the PC and PEC activities.     

Ultra-trace level determination of hydroquinone in waste photographic solutions by UV-vis spectrophotometry

A simpler UV-vis spectrophotometric method was investigated for hydroquinone (HQ) determination using KMnO₄ as oxidizing agent for conversion of HQ to p-benzoquinone (BQ) as well as signal enhancer. Various parameters such as analytical wavelength, stability time, temperature, pH, solvent effect and interference of chemicals were checked and parameters optimized by using 1 μg ml⁻¹ standard solution of HQ. Beer's Law was applicable in the range of 0.07-2 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.005-0.05 μg ml⁻¹ at 245.5 nm and at 262 nm for aqueous standard solutions of HQ with linear regression coefficient value of 0.9978 and 0.9843 and detection limit of 0.021 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.0016 μg ml⁻¹ HQ, respectively. Standard deviation of 1.7% and 2.4% was true for 1 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.03 μg ml⁻¹ HQ solution (n = 11) run at respective wavelengths. The method was successfully applied to dilute waste photographic developer samples for free HQ determination.     

Molecularly imprinted polyaniline-polyvinyl sulphonic acid composite based sensor for para-nitrophenol detection

We report results of the studies relating to the fabrication and characterization of a conducting polymer based molecularly imprinted para-nitrophenol (PNP) sensor. A water pollutant, para-nitrophenol is electrochemically imprinted with polyvinyl sulphonic acid (PVSA) doped polyaniline onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate. This PNP imprinted electrode (PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO) prepared via chronopotentiometric polymerization and over-oxidation is characterized by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, contact angle (CA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies. The response studies of PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO electrode carried out using DPV reveal a lower detection limit of 1 × 10⁻³ mM, improved sensitivity as 1.5 × 10⁻³ A mM⁻¹ and stability of 45 days. The PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO electrode shows good precision with relative standard deviation of 2.1% and good reproducibility with standard deviation of 3.78%.     

Electrochemical stability of polyaniline

The kinetics of the electrochemical degradation of polyaniline (PANI) films has been investigated in 0.5 M sulfuric acid solution at different electrode potentials ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Two kinds of PANI films were used, one doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), and the other—with indigotetrasulfonate (ITS). Within a range of relatively low electrode potential (0.3-0.6 V), the degradation was found to proceed at a first-order rate constant of 4×10⁻⁵ to 5×10⁻⁵ s⁻¹, corresponding to degradation half-period of 4-5 h. A sharp increase in the degradation rate proceed by extending the electrode potential to higher values, with a maximum rate constant of ≈2.5×10⁻³ s⁻¹ for PANI-PSS, and ≈1.2×10⁻³ s⁻¹ for PANI-ITS films, obtained at a higher potential of 0.9-1.0 V. The data obtained are interpreted by different degradation rate for two distinct redox forms of PANI—emeraldine (slow degradation), and pernigraniline (fast degradation).     

Electrochemical sensor for cinchonine based on a competitive host-guest complexation

An electrochemical sensor for cinchonine (CCN) using the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) modified poly(N-acetylaniline) (PAA) electrode has been developed, in which 1,4-hydroquinone (HQ) was chosen as a probe. Complexation of HQ with β-CD modified on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV). HQ was included in the cavity of β-CD and reversible voltammograms were observed. In the presence of CCN, a competitive inclusion equilibrium with β-CD was established between HQ and CCN, lowering the peak current of HQ. The decrease in the peak current of HQ is directly proportional to the amount of CCN. Linear calibration plot was obtained over the range from 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 8.0 × 10⁻⁵ M with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ M. From the inhibitory effect of CCN on the inclusion of HQ by β-CD, the apparent formation constant of CCN with the immobilized β-CD was estimated. This electrochemical sensor showed excellent sensitivity, repeatability, stability and recovery for the determination of CCN. The response mechanism of the sensor was discussed in detail. The optimum steric configuration of inclusion complex was presented by molecular dynamics simulation.     

Preparation of PANI-TiO2 nanocomposites and their solid-phase photocatalytic degradation

A series of polyaniline-anatase TiO₂ (PANI-TiO₂) nanocomposite powders with different PANI:TiO₂ ratios were prepared by ‘in-situ’ deposition oxidative polymerization of aniline hydrochloride using ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidant in the presence of ultrafine grade powder of anatase TiO₂ cooled in an ice bath. And the solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposites was investigated under the ambient air in order to assess the feasibility of developing photodegradable polymers. The photodegradation of the composite powders was compared with that of pure PANI powders by performing weight loss monitoring, elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposite powders showed highly enhanced photodegradation and the photodegradation increased with decreasing ratios of PANI:TiO₂. A weight loss of about 6.8% was found for the PANI-TiO₂ (1:3) nanocomposite; however, the weight loss of the PANI-HCl powder was only 0.3% after being irradiated for 60 h under air. The photocatalytic degradation of the nanocomposite powders accompanied the peak intensity decrease in the FT-IR spectra at 1235 cm⁻¹, attributed to C-N stretching mode for benzenoid unit, and the depigmentation of the powders due to the visible light scattering from growing cavities. The elemental analysis and XPS analysis of the composite showed that the bulk and surface concentrations of N decreased with irradiation. A possible mechanism for the photocatalytical oxidative degradation was also mentioned.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline microfibers by utilizing H4SiW12O40/polyacrylamide microfibers seeding template method

In this paper, polyaniline (PANI) microfibers with average diameter of 250 nm were synthesized by utilizing H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀/polyacrylamide (HPA/PAM) microfibers seeding template method. The PANI microfibers were characterized by element analyses, FT-IR spectra, X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), and Scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The microfibers seeding template significantly affected the fibrous morphology of the resulting PANI. However, the diameter of the PANI microfibers was almost not affected by the diameter of the microfibers seeding template in the experimental range. In addition, the conductivity of the PANI microfibers was also investigated. The result showed that the best conductivity of the PANI microfibers doped with H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀ was 27.1 S/cm.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Nanophase Hexagonal Poly(2,5‐dimethoxyaniline)

Novel nanophase hexagonal structured polyaniline (PANI) and poly(2,5‐dimethoxyanilines) (PDMA) were synthesized by oxidative polymerization involving the respective anilines and a mixture of ferric chloride and ammonium persulfate. The morphological, spectral and electrochemical characteristics of the polymers were determined from the results of SEM, FTIR, UV‐vis, TGA and cyclic voltammetry experiments. The hexagonal PANI and PDMA nanorods (15–200 nm diameter) exhibited very good thermal stabilities, losing only 10% of their weight on heating to 400 °C. Electrochemical data indicated a pernigraniline state of the polymers with formal potential, E°′, values of 394±6 mV and 400±1 mV, for PANI (conductance, C=0.37×10^?3 S) and PDMA (conductance, C=2.02×10^?3 S), respectively. The pernigraniline state was confirmed by sharp FTIR pernigraniline quinoidic peaks (PANI: 1414 cm^?1; PDMA: 1157 cm^?1), and UV‐vis absorption maxima at 340–370 nm (PANI) and 450–650 nm (PDMA) which are characteristic of charge transfer excitons of the quinoid structures of pernigraniline.     

Electrodepositions and capacitive properties of hybrid films of polyaniline and manganese dioxide with fibrous morphologies

Electrocodepositions were conducted in solutions of aniline and MnSO₄ through potential cycling to afford hybrid films of polyaniline (PANI) and manganese dioxide (PANI/MnO₂). The films obtained displayed characteristic redox peaks of PANI on cyclic voltammograms in acidic aqueous solution. While in 1.0 M NaNO₃ at pH 1, the films showed pseudocapacitive behaviors from 0 to 0.65 V vs. SCE. MnO₂ was detected through XRD and XPS measurements on the films. The codeposition of PANI with MnO₂ had dramatic effects on morphologies of the obtained hybrid films that displayed fibrous morphologies instead of granular one of PANI. Hybrid film PM50 obtained in the presence of 50 mM Mn²⁺ displayed a specific capacitance of 532 F g⁻¹ at 2.4 mA cm⁻² discharging current, 26% higher than that of similarly prepared PANI. It showed a coulombic efficiency (η) of 97.5% over 1200 cycles with 76% specific capacitance maintained.     

Synthesis and characterization of electroactive copolymer with phenyl-capped aniline tetramer in the main chain by oxidative coupling polymerization

A novel electroactive alternating copolymer, with fixed conjugated length of oligoaniline (phenyl-capped aniline tetramer) in the main chain, was successfully synthesized via oxidative coupling polymerization. The structure of the copolymer was systematically studied by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, NMR, elemental analysis (EA), UV-vis spectra and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). And its electrochemical behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement. It was found that the obtained copolymer bearing phenyl-capped aniline tetramer segments had a reversible electrochemical property in the cyclic voltammetry, and the copolymer was oxidized to its emeraldine oxidation state and then to the pernigraniline oxidation state, which was same as that of polyaniline. Moreover, the thermal properties of the copolymer were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrical conductivity of the obtained copolymer was about 1.43 × 10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature.     

In situ chemo-synthesized multi-wall carbon nanotube-conductive polyaniline nanocomposites: characterization and application for a glucose amperometric biosensor

A new glucose amperometric biosensor, based on electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles onto the surface of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT)-polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites, and then immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOD) with covalent interaction and adsorption effect, was constructed in this paper. Firstly, the MWNT-PANI nanocomposites had been synthesized by in situ polymerization and were characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra. The assembled process of the modified electrode was probed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Chronoamperometry was used to study the electrochemical performance of the resulting biosensor. The glucose biosensor exhibited a linear calibration curve over the range from 3.0 μM to 8.2 mM, with a detection limit of 1.0 μM and a high sensitivity of 16.1 μA mM⁻¹. The biosensor also showed a short response time (within 5 s). Furthermore, the reproducibility, stability and interferences of the biosensor were also investigated.     

The stability of polyaniline in strongly alkaline or acidic aqueous media

Polyaniline (PANI) base has been suspended in 9 M potassium hydroxide at 20 °C or 90 °C for various time intervals extending to 4 months. The fraction of acetone-soluble material increased from 1.2 wt.% to 4.5 wt.% after exposure to an alkaline medium for 60 days at 20 °C. Gel-permeation chromatography indicates that the aggregation of PANI is reduced, while the chain degradation itself is negligible. FTIR spectroscopy confirms this trend and the absence of hydrolytic changes in the PANI structure. Polyaniline retains the ability to be reprotonated with a 1 M sulfuric acid to a conducting form. No marked changes in the molecular structure have been found, even after suspension of PANI in 9 M KOH at 90 °C for 60 days.Similar immersion of PANI salt in 5 M sulfuric acid at 20 °C was responsible for changes in the protonation, and the mass increased by 11 wt.%. This was explained by the exchange of the original sulfate or chloride counter-ions for hydrogen sulfate anions or by the protonation of secondary amine sites in PANI in addition to imine ones. The changes in the molecular structure are discussed on the basis of FTIR spectra. The conductivity decreased from 1.2 S cm⁻¹ to ∼10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ but no time-dependence of conductivity was observed. There was no fraction of PANI soluble in acetone. PANI in the protonated state is thus stable also in the strongly acidic medium.The study is supplemented by the assessment of the thermal stability of PANI base, which is of importance for the processing of PANI. Loss of moisture has been observed after exposure to 250 °C for 10 h in both nitrogen atmosphere and in air. Good stability was found at 350 °C only in the nitrogen atmosphere, while a marked mass loss in weight was registered in air.     

Enzymatic degradation of some nanocomposites of poly(vinyl alcohol) with starch

A study of the enzymatic degradation of some montmorillonite-containing nanocomposites of poly(vinyl alcohol) with starch was based on the determinations of mass loss and the reducing sugars. The degraded residues have been examined by FT-IR spectroscopy and optical microscopy. It has been established that the nanoparticles hinder degradation, while the susceptibility to enzymatic degradation varies in the order: PVA/starch/nanocore > PVA/starch/Bentonite > PVA/starch/Peruvian clay.     

Enhanced electrical conductivity of Ag-mercaptosuccinic acid-redoped polyaniline nanoparticles during thermal cycling above 200 °C

Ag-doped polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles are prepared via doping-dedoping-redoping with the thiol group in mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) providing the linkage between PANI molecules and Ag atoms. Ag-MSA-doped PANI maintains the electrical conductivity well above the room-temperature value of 3.0 S/cm up to 220 °C, reaching its maximum (9.0 S/cm) at 180 °C. In addition, Ag-MSA-doped PANI nanoparticles show remarkable stability against repeated thermal aging at 120 °C. The room-temperature conductivity, in fact, increases by a factor of ∼3 after 3 cycles of thermal aging. The enhanced stability against repeated thermal aging is attributed to the formation of uniformly distributed Ag nanoparticles within the PANI particles upon heating.     

Thermal stability of several polyaniline/rare earth oxide composites

Polyaniline/rare earth oxide composites (PANI/La₂O₃ and PANI/Sm₂O₃) were synthesized by in situ polymerization at the presence of sulfosalicylic acid (as dopant). The composites obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal stability of the composites was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The electrochemical performance of the composites was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results of FTIR, XRD, SEM, CV, and EIS show that the structure of composite has changed greatly when rare earth oxide content is >0.7 g (PANI/La₂O₃[w/w(92.7/7.3)] and PANI/Sm₂O₃[w/w(96.2/3.8)]) and the PANI in the composite has transformed into pernigraniline base (non-conducting state) from emeraldine base (conducting state). TG-DTG analysis indicates that the thermal stability of composite was higher than pure PANI, which is attributed to the interaction between PANI and rare earth oxide.     

Synthesis and properties of conducting organic/inorganic polyurethane hybrids

A series of polyurethane/polyaniline/silica organic/inorganic hybrids were synthesized via the conventional polyurethane (PU) prepolymer technique. Amine-endcapped polyaniline (PANI) with low molecular weight and higher solubility was firstly synthesized. This PANI oligomer was then used together with nano-silica bearing silanol groups as chain extenders to prepare the conducting polyurethane hybrids. The polyurethane hybrids were designated as PU-xPANI-ySiO₂ (x + y = 1). For comparison, the urethane-aniline block copolymer and the PU/silica hybrid were designated as PU-PANI and PU-SiO₂, respectively.The structures of PU-PANI, PU-SiO₂ and conducting polyurethane hybrids were confirmed by FT-IR, solid-state ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectra. In nano-silica containing organic/inorganic conducting polyurethane hybrids, UV-vis spectra revealed the maximum absorption bands similar to that of PU-PANI. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that these samples are typical of semicrystalline/amorphous materials. SEM image of PU-0.5PANI-0.5SiO₂ showed that PANI was dispersed homogeneously and interconnected continuously in the insulating PU-silica matrix. TGA results of the polymer hybrids exhibited higher thermal stabilities and lower decomposition rates than that of PU-PANI both in nitrogen and air. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies indicated that the polyurethane hybrids had higher glass-transition temperatures (T_g) with the increase of PANI, but lower than that of PU-PANI. Stress-strain curves for all of the polyurethane hybrids showed the elastomeric behavior of typical polyurethanes. The surface resistivity values of all hybrids were about 10⁸ ∼ 10¹⁰ Ω/sq. and might meet the requirement of the anti-electrostatic materials.     

Mechanistic studies on the Pd–Cl cleavage of dichloro-[1-alkyl-2-(naphthylazo)imidazole]palladium(II) complexes by 8-quinolinol

8-Quinolinol (HQ) reacts with [Pd(α-/β-NaiR)Cl₂] [α-/β-NaiR = 1-alkyl-2-(naphthyl-α-/β-azo)imidazole] in acetonitrile (MeCN) solution to give [Pd(α-/β-NaiR)(Q)](ClO₄). The products are characterized by spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV–Vis, NMR). The reaction kinetics show a first order dependence of rate on each of the concentration of the metal complex and HQ. Addition of LiCl to the reaction retarded the rate of reaction and has proved the cleavage of the Pd–Cl bond as the rate-determining step. Thermodynamic parameters (Δ^‡H^° and Δ^‡S^°) are determined from variable temperature kinetic studies. The magnitude of the second order rate constant, k₂, increases as in the order: Pd(NaiEt)Cl₂ < Pd(NaiMe)Cl₂ < Pd(NaiBz)Cl₂ as well as Pd(β-NaiR)Cl₂ < Pd(α-NaiR)Cl₂.     

TiO2光催化降解4-氯苯酚过程中的电分析监测

 采用循环伏安法和紫外光谱法对有机物的光催化降解进行机理研究和在线监测．以标准光催化剂DegussaP25在紫外光照射下催化降解4－氯苯酚,发现在降解过程中至少有两对氧化还原中间产物：对苯二酚－苯醌和羟基氢醌－羟基苯醌．由4－氯苯酚及中间产物的电极响应,可以观测到它们在光催化降解过程中的含量变化,从而对整个过程实现在线监测,并由此全面了解光催化反应机理．从不同反应时间后测得的紫外光谱可以看到,苯环特征峰逐渐消失．这表明4－氯苯酚的苯环逐渐被打开,直至被彻底降解．     

TiO2光催化降解4-氯苯酚过程中的电分析监测

采用循环伏安法和紫外光谱法对有机物的光催化降解进行机理研究和在线监测.以标准光催化剂DegussaP25在紫外光照射下催化降解4-氯苯酚,发现在降解过程中至少有两对氧化还原中间产物对苯二酚-苯醌和羟基氢醌-羟基苯醌.由4-氯苯酚及中间产物的电极响应,可以观测到它们在光催化降解过程中的含量变化,从而对整个过程实现在线监测,并由此全面了解光催化反应机理.从不同反应时间后测得的紫外光谱可以看到,苯环特征峰逐渐消失.这表明4-氯苯酚的苯环逐渐被打开,直至被彻底降解.