Gradient doping of conducting polymer films by means of bipolar electrochemistry

In this paper, we report a novel electrochemical doping method for conducting polymer films based on bipolar electrochemistry. The electrochemical doping of conducting polymers such as poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMT), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and poly(aniline) (PANI) on a bipolar electrode having a potential gradient on its surface successfully created gradually doped materials. In the case of PEDOT film, the color change at the anodic side was also observed to be gradually transparent. PANI film treated by the bipolar doping gave a multicolored gradation across the film. The results of UV-vis and energy dispersive X-ray analyses for the doped films supported the distribution of dopants in the polymer films reflecting the potential gradient on the bipolar electrode. Furthermore, the reversibility of the bipolar doping of the PMT film was demonstrated by a spectroelectrochemical investigation.     

Conducting polymer films fabricated by oxidative graft copolymerization of aniline on poly(acrylic acid) grafted poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces

A conductive polyaniline/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PANI/PET) composite film was fabricated via the oxidative graft copolymerization of aniline (ANI) onto the plasma-induced poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) grafted PET surface. The attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed that PANI was successfully grafted onto the surface of the PAAc-g-PET films. The effects of the experimental conditions on the percentage of PANI grafted onto the PAAc-g-PET films were extensively investigated. A very high grafting percentage of ANI can be obtained through the acid-base reaction between the aniline monomer and PAAc on the PAAc-g-PET surface at high temperature. As a result, the grafting percentage of PANI can be increased to as high as 12.18 wt %, which causes the surface resistance of the PANI-g-PAAc-g-PET film to be reduced to about 1000 Omega/sq. We predicted that this is because of the high flexibility of the PAAc molecular chains and high solubility of aniline, both of which facilitate the binding of aniline to PAAc during this high temperature acid-base reaction. It was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) that the PANI-modified PET surface exhibits higher size irregularity and surface roughness, which further indicated that a much greater number of aniline molecules can be reactively bonded to and distributed along the grafted AAc chains and that the PANI-g-PAAc-g-PET surface resulting from the sequential oxidative graft copolymerization can possess higher electrical conductivity.     

Room-temperature imprinting poly(acrylic acid)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) multilayer films by using polymer molds

Layer-by-layer assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer films of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) have been successfully patterned by room-temperature imprinting using a Norland Optical Adhesives (NOA 63) polymer mold. The proper amount of water in the PAA/PAH multilayer film can decrease the viscosity of the film and facilitate the imprinting. Many factors, such as imprinting pressure, length of imprinting time, and the structure and size of the patterns in the polymer mold, can produce an influence on the final imprinted pattern structures on multilayer films. A high imprinting pressure of 100 bar and elongated imprinting time of several hours is needed to achieve a patterned PAA/PAH multilayer film with a feature size of several tens of micrometers. With a twice imprinting, grid structures can be successfully produced when a NOA 63 mold having line structures is used. Room-temperature imprinting by using polymer NOA 63 mold provides a facile way to fabricate layered polymeric films with various kinds of pattern structures.     

Fabrication of shape-controllable polyaniline micro/nanostructures on organic polymer surfaces: obtaining spherical particles, wires, and ribbons

A novel strategy was developed in order to prepare various micro/nanostructured polyanilines (PANI) on polymer substrates. The strategy involved two main steps, i.e., a grafting polymerization of acrylate acid (AA) onto the surface of a polypropylene (PP) film and subsequently an oxidative polymerization of aniline on the grafted surface. By tuning the conformation of the surface-grafted poly acrylate acid (PAA) brushes, as well as the ratio of AA to aniline, the shape of the PANIs fixated onto the surfaces of the polymer substrate could be controlled to go from spherical particles to nanowires and eventually to nanoribbons. In these structures, the PAA brushes not only acted as templates but also as dopants of PANI, and thereby, the nanostructured PANIs could be strongly bonded with the substrate. In addition, the surface of the PP films grafted with polyaniline nanowires and nanoribbons displayed superhydrophobicity with contact angles for water of approxiamtely 145 and 151 degrees , respectively.     

Nanoelectrode ensembles based on conductive polyaniline/poly(acrylic acid) using porous sol–gel films as template

Porous sol–gel (PSG) film has been utilized as a template for the electrochemical polymerization of aniline in presence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The presence of electroactive polyaniline (PAn)/PAA within the porous skeleton of the sol–gel films has been confirmed using cyclic voltammetry, UV–vis spectrometry and atomic force microscopic measurements. The densities and the sizes of the nanoelectrodes can be controlled easily using electrochemical methods. The conductive polymer “wires” of PAn/PAA formation in PSG matrix can behave as an ensemble of closely-spaced but isolated nanoelectrodes. Moreover, the nanoelectrode ensembles based on conductive PAn/PAA for glucose biosensing are fabricated by immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) and Nafion onto the surface of conductive polymer. Owing to the biocompatibility of PSG and electro-activity of PAn/PAA at neutral pH regions, the glucose biosensor shows excellent characteristics and performance, such as low detection limit and fast response time.     

Polyaniline film deposition from the oxidative polymerization of aniline using K2Cr2O7

The deposition of the polyaniline (PANI) films was monitored using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. The films were grown from an aqueous dilute hydrochloric acid solution by the chemical oxidation of aniline using potassium dichromate (KDC). The effect of the initial molar ratio of the KDC/aniline on the yield and the growth rate of the PANI films were studied. There is no optimum initial molar ratio of KDC/aniline of PANI film deposition. Also there was a small depletion period and no degradation to the deposited PANI films. The order of the polymerization kinetics was studied with respect to KDC. The UV-visible spectra of the PANI films grown onto a glass support immersed into the bulk solution were measured. The absorption of the PANI film with the time of polymerization was compared to the growth of the PANI film thickness with time determined from the QCM technique. The characteristics of the PANI film deposition were compared to the corresponding ones that were observed during the oxidative polymerization of aniline with ammonium persulphate (APS).     

Optimization of the thickness of a conducting polymer, polyaniline, deposited on the surface of poly(vinyl chloride) membranes: a new way to improve their potentiometric response

Repeated depositions of polyaniline (PANI) have been used to control the thickness of the polymeric film deposited on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane surface. The oxidation of aniline was carried out in a dispersion mode, i.e. in the presence of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Two kinds of PVC were used for this purpose: a non-plasticized PVC for the study of PANI deposition and PVC, plasticized with nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE), as a prototype of a liquid membrane electrode. The results of UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopies and electron microscopy showed that (1) the film thickness increased by about equal increments of ∼40 nm after each polymerization, and (2) the interface with PVC was constituted by PANI film and adhering PANI-PVP colloidal particles.The various thicknesses of the deposited PANI films affected the potentiometric response of the NPOE/PVC membrane with and without an anion-exchanger. The potentiometric anionic response was observed with a minimal thickness of PANI film on the blank NPOE/PVC membrane. Sensitivity of the PANI film to pH occurred only with a blank NPOE/PVC membrane coated with a thick polymeric film, while it was strongly suppressed by the presence of a lipophilic anion-exchanger, tridodecylmethylammonium chloride (TDDMACl), in the membrane, regardless of the thickness of the polymer film. The thickness of the PANI film did not affect the anionic selectivity pattern of TDDMACl-based membranes to any great extent, but its presence improved and stabilized their potentiometric characteristics (sensitivity, linear-response range).     

Partial poly(glutamic acid) <--> poly(aspartic acid) exchange in layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte films. Structural alterations in the three-component architectures

Layer-by-layer (LBL) polyelectrolyte films were constructed from poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA) and poly(L-aspartic acid) (PAA) as polyanions, and from poly(L-lysine) (PLL) as the polycation. The terminating layer of the films was always PLL. According to attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared measurements, the PGA/PLL and PAA/PLL films, despite their chemical similarity, had largely different secondary structures. Extended beta-sheets dominated the PGA/PLL films, while alpha-helices and intramolecular beta-sheets dominated the PAA/PLL films. The secondary structure of the polyelectrolyte film affected the adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) as well. HSA preserved its native secondary structure on the PGA/PLL film, but it became largely deformed on PAA/PLL films. Both PGA and PAA were able to extrude to a certain extent the other polyanion from the films, but the structural consequences were different. Adding PAA to a (PGA/PLL)5-PGA film resulted in a simple exchange and incorporation: PGA/PLL and PAA/PLL complexes coexisted with their unaltered secondary structures in the mixed film. The incorporation of PGA into a (PAA/PLL)5-PAA film was up to 50% and caused additional beta-structure increase in the secondary structure of the film. The proportions of the two polyanions were roughly the same on the surfaces and in the interiors of the films, indicating practically free diffusion for both polyanions. The abundance of PAA/PLL and PGA/PLL domains on the film surfaces was monitored by the analysis of the amide I region of the infrared spectrum of a reporter molecule, HSA, adsorbed onto the three-component polyelectrolyte films.     

Electrochemically modulated permeability of poly(aniline) and composite poly(aniline)-poly(styrenesulfonate) membranes

The influence of oxidation state on the permeability of several probe molecules through conducting polymer membranes comprising composites of poly(aniline) and poly(styrenesulfonate) was examined in aqueous solution. Pure poly(aniline) membranes displayed a characteristic increase in permeability between reduced and half-oxidized states for neutrally charged phenol and negatively charged 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate. In contrast, positively charged pyridine experienced decreased permeability through the membrane when poly(aniline) was switched from the reduced to the half-oxidized state. This behavior can be explained by a combination of oxidation-induced film swelling and the anion-exchange character of the positively charged membrane. The membrane composition was modified to include a fixed negative charge by the addition of poly(styrenesulfonate) during synthesis. The incorporation of this negatively charged component introduced cation-exchange character to the film and substantially reduced membrane permeability to 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate in both oxidation states. In addition, increasing the fraction of poly(styrenesulfonate) in the membrane served to decrease film permeability for all species because of a densification of the membrane. This work demonstrates how both film composition and oxidation state can be used to tune the permeability of conducting polymer membranes.     

Composite layers consisting of polyaniline and poly(o-phenylenediamine): Electrochemical deposition, electrochromic and electrocatalytic properties

The composite polymer layers consisting of polyaniline (PANI) and poly(o-phenylenediamine) (poly(o-PDA)) were electrodeposited on a platinum electrode by simultaneous electrochemical oxidation of corresponding monomers from aquaeous hydrochloric solutions. The growth of PANI and poly(o-PDA) occurs separately resulting in layers with two distinct, finely distributed phases. The first deposited layers are composed mainly of poly(o-PDA) and become richer in PANI as the electropolymerization proceeds. The aniline/o-PDA copolymer was not formed during electrodeposition, as evidenced by cyclic voltammetry and Fourier-transformed IR spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that the electrochromic properties of resulting composite layers are the combination of yellow/brown-reddish and green/dark blue observable color transitions which are characteristics of poly(o-PDA) and PANI, respectively. Electrocatalytic properties of the electrosynthesized composite layers were investigated on quinone/hydroquinone (Q/H₂Q) redox system and it was shown that the composite layers increase the heterogeneous electron transfer rate with a magnitudes ranging from those obtained on pure poly(o-PDA) to those obtained on pure PANI layer.     

Designing Polyaniline (PANI) and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Based Electrically Conductive Nanocomposites: Preparation,Characterization and Blood Compatible Study

Novel electrically conducting and biocompatible composite hydrogel materials comprising of poly (aniline) (PANI) nanoparticles dispersed in a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) – g–poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) matrix were prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline. The prepared ionic hydrogels were evaluated for their water uptake capacity in distilled water. While structural insights into the synthesized polymer was sought by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X–Ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques, morphology and dimension of PANI particles embedded into the colored optically semi–transparent polymer films were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis and Transmittance Electron Microscopy (TEM) while thermal behavior of composite hydrogel was investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Electrical conductivity of composite hydrogels containing different PANI percentage was determined by LCR. Considering the potential of electrically conductive nanocomposites materials in biomedical applications the in vitro blood compatibility of nanocomposites was investigated by employing several in vitro tests.     

An analysis of the kinetics of oxidation of ascorbate at poly(aniline)-poly(styrene sulfonate) modified microelectrodes

A detailed kinetic study is provided for the oxidation of ascorbate at poly(aniline)-poly(styrene sulfonate) coated microelectrodes. Flat films with a low degree of polymer spillover and a thickness much lower than the microelectrode radius were produced by controlled potentiodynamic electrodeposition. The currents for ascorbate oxidation are found to be independent of the polymer thickness, indicating that the reaction occurs at the outer surface of the polymer film. At low ascorbate concentrations, below around 40 mM, the currents are found to be mass transport limited. At higher ascorbate concentrations the currents became kinetically limited. The experimental data for measurements at a range of potentials are fitted to a consistent kinetic model and the results summarized in a case diagram. The results obtained for the poly(aniline)-(polystyrene sulfonate) coated microelectrode are compared to those for a poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulfonate) coated microelectrode and to the results of an earlier study of the reaction at poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulfonate) coated rotating disc electrodes. For poly(aniline)-poly(styrene sulfonate) the oxidation of ascorbate is found to proceed by one electron reaction whereas for poly(aniline)-poly(vinyl sulfonate) the reaction is found to be a two electron oxidation.     

基底材料对脉冲电流法制备的聚苯胺膜性能的影响

本文采用脉冲电流法(PGM)在不同的基底材料表面沉积PANI, 通过平均电位\|时间曲线及扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等方法研究了基底材料对PGM法制备PANI的影响; 并采用循环伏安(CV)和电化学阻抗谱(EIS)研究了不同电极材料表面PANI的电化学性能.     

Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films Containing Ferrocene: Effects of Polyelectrolyte Type and Ferrocene Contents in the Film on the Redox Properties

Electrochemical properties of Fc‐PEM films have been studied by changing the chemical structure of the polymer chains and the content of Fc moiety in the film systematically. We have prepared a series of PEM films by a layer‐by‐layer deposition of polycations, Fc‐modified poly(allylamine) (Fc‐PAA) and poly(ethyleneimine) (Fc‐PEI), and polyanionic poly(vinyl sulfate) (PVS) on the surface of a gold electrode. The redox properties of the Fc‐PAA/PVS and Fc‐PEI/PVS films depended significantly on the content of Fc moiety in the polymer chains and on the polymer type. Fc‐ PAA and Fc‐PEI polymer chains can penetrate 3 or 4 PAA/PVS bilayers inserted between the redox polymers and electrode. The Fc‐PAA film‐modified electrode can be used for electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid.     

Assembly of multilayered films using well-defined, end-labeled poly(acrylic acid): influence of molecular weight on exponential growth in a synthetic weak polyelectrolyte system

We report on the influence of polyanion molecular weight on the growth and structure of multilayered thin films fabricated from poly(allylamine) (PAH) and well-defined, end-labeled poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. We observed striking differences in the growth of PAH/PAA films fabricated using well-defined PAA compared to films fabricated using higher molecular weight, commercially available PAA. Past studies demonstrate that the thicknesses of PAH/PAA films increase as linear functions of the number of PAH and PAA layers deposited over a broad range of pH (e.g., from pH 2.5 to 4.5). We observed the thicknesses of films fabricated using solutions of PAH and PAA adjusted to pH 7.5 and 3.5, respectively, to increase in a nonlinear manner. Films fabricated using well-defined, low molecular weight samples of PAA under these conditions increased in thickness exponentially. Experiments using samples of PAA having substantially non-overlapping molecular weight distributions demonstrated a clear relationship between the molecular weight of PAA and rates of film growth. We also used confocal microscopy, in combination with fluorescently end-labeled samples of PAA, to characterize the location of PAA in these assemblies. The results of these experiments, when combined, support the general conclusion that PAA is able to penetrate or diffuse into these films over large distances during assembly. The mechanism of growth for these films thus appears similar to that recently reported for the exponential growth of films fabricated using a variety of biologically relevant polyelectrolytes. The use of living/controlled methods of polymerization to synthesize well-defined samples of PAA facilitates an interpretation of these differences in film behavior as arising largely from differences in polymer molecular weight and polydispersity. This work provides insight into the assembly and structure of a well-studied weak polyelectrolyte film system and illustrates the potential of living/controlled methods of polymerization to contribute to the characterization and understanding of the physical properties of these ionically cross-linked materials.     

Hydrogen bonded layer-by-layer assembly of poly(2-vinylpyridine) and poly(acrylic acid): Influence of molecular weight on the formation of microporous film by post-base treatment

This article describes the buildup of hydrogen bonded multilayer film of poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and the influence of polymer molecular weight on the formation of microporous film by post-base treatment. The formation of a microporous film involved a two-step mechanism: the release of PAA from P2VP/PAA multilayer, and the reorganization of the remaining P2VP on the substrate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) indicated that the release of PAA from hydrogen bonded multilayer was a rapid process, which was almost independent of the molecular weight of PAA. Furthermore, the molecular weight of P2VP had a great effect on micropore formation by immersing the P2VP/PAA multilayer in basic solution. The rate of micropore formation increased with increasing molecular weight. We anticipate that a comparative study on P2VP/PAA films containing high or low molecular weight polymer provides a way to control the surface morphology, and will be helpful and constructive for the forthcoming discussion about the formation of the microporous film.     

Microgravimetric study of electrochemically controlled nucleophilic addition of sulfite to polyaniline

The sulfonation of polyaniline (PANI) films by nucleophilic addition of sulfite ion has been controlled through the polymer oxidation state under electrochemical control. The process was monitored by in situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), and the polymer oxidation was accomplished by electrode potential steps in sulfite aqueous solutions. The nucleophilic addition of sulfite to PANI only takes place on the oxidized polymer. From the ratio of added mass to the injected charge, the degree of sulfonation has been obtained with a yield as high as 50%. It has been observed that the ion-exchange mechanism during the oxidation-reduction process in the resulting sulfonated polymer is analogous to the polymer produced by electrophilic sulfonation of polyaniline or by copolymerization of aniline with aminosulfonic acids, unlike the ionic exchange observed for unmodified PANI.     

Low-potential facile electrosyntheses of high-quality free-standing poly(fluorene-9-carboxylic acid) films

A novel conducting polymer, high-quality poly(fluorene-9-carboxylic acid) (PFCA) film, was synthesized electrochemically by direct anodic oxidation of fluorene-9-carboxylic acid (FCA) in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) containing a certain amount of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). PFCA films obtained from this media showed good redox activity and stability. Optical properties were studied by UV–vis and fluorescent spectroscopy. Fluorescent spectral studies indicate that solid PFCA film is a good blue-light emitter. To the best of knowledge, this is the first report on direct anodic oxidation of FCA.     

The kinetics and spectral studies of the in situ polyaniline film formation

The chemical oxidation of aniline with ammonium persulfate (APS) in an aqueous acidic solution to form polyaniline (PANI) films has been studied using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. The kinetics of the film formation was investigated. The reaction exhibited half-order with respect to APS and first-order to aniline. The effect of temperature on the growth rate of PANI films was studied. The activation energy is 39.79 kJ/mol. This is in agreement with the corresponding one determined for the chemical polymerization of PANI in the bulk. The UV-visible spectra of the PANI films grown onto a glass support immersed into the bulk solution were measured. The absorption of the PANI film with time was also studied and compared to the growth of the PANI film thickness using the QCM technique.     

Film thickness studies for the chemically synthesized conducting polyaniline

The chemical oxidation of aniline with ammonium persulphate (APS) in aqueous acidic medium to form polyaniline (PANI) films has been studied using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. PANI films can also grow onto glass supports immersed in the reaction mixture during the polymerization. The optical absorption for these films was measured. Multilayer deposition of polymer films onto the gold electrode of QCM and onto the glass supports from consecutive repetitive treatments by the reaction mixture containing aniline and APS, were studied. The induction period, the yield and the growth rate of the polymer films during the multilayer deposition were discussed. A relation between the thickness of the films determined, from QCM technique and the optical absorption of the films was established. The electrical conductivity of the PANI films was also measured.