Amphiphilic azobenzenesulfonic acid anionic surfactant for water-soluble, ordered, and luminescent polypyrrole nanospheres

Self-organized micelles of new renewable resource amphiphilic azobenzenesulfonic acid anionic surfactant were utilized to prepare water-soluble, luminescent, and highly ordered polypyrrole nanomaterials. The micellar behavior of the reaction medium was precisely controlled by varying the composition of pyrrole/surfactant ratio from 3 to 100 (up to 100 times lower amount of surfactant with respect to pyrrole), and polypyrrole nanospheres of 150-800 nm were prepared. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and viscosity techniques were employed as tools to trace the factors, which control the mechanism of polypyrrole nanomaterials formation. DLS studies confirmed that the surfactant exists as in the form of spherical micelles of 4.8 nm diameter in water. Specific viscosity measurement revealed that the pyrrole+surfactant complexes in water exist in the form of either aggregated or isolated micelles depending upon their composition in the feed. SEM and TEM analysis confirmed that the aggregated micellar templates produced coral-like morphology, whereas uniform polypyrrole nanospheres of 150-400 nm were obtained at low micellar concentration. The nanomaterials formation was unperturbed by the variation of the oxidation agents such as ammonium persulphate (APS) or ferric chloride (FeCl3). WXRD analysis of the nanomaterials indicates that the anionic surfactant effectively penetrates into the polypyrrole chains, and a new peak at 2theta = 6.3 degrees (d-spacing = 14 A) was observed corresponding to highly ordered polymer chains. UV-vis and FT-IR confirmed the highly doped state, and the conductivity of the samples was obtained in the range of 10(-1) to 10(-2) S/cm by four-probe conductivity measurements. The azobenzenesulfonic acid anionic surfactant is luminescent in water, and its grafting on the polypyrrole nanospheres enhances the luminescent intensity with the quantum yield in the range of 2 x 10(-3) to 3 x 10(-4).     

Fabrication of poly(aniline‐co‐pyrrole) hollow nanospheres with Triton X‐100 micelles as templates

A one‐step route has been reported for the fabrication of poly(aniline‐co‐pyrrole) (PACP) copolymer hollow nanospheres via the oxidation polymerization of a mixture of aniline and pyrrole in the presence of Triton X‐100. It was found that the variations in polymerization conditions, such as the concentrations of Triton X‐100 and comonomers, and [pyrrole]/[aniline] molar ratios, could change the size and uniformity of copolymer hollow nanospheres. The result of DLS has attested the presence of the spherical Triton X‐100 micelles swelled by the comonomers in reaction system, and such micelles might play template for the formation of hollow nanospheres, followed by developing a possible formation mechanism. The chemical structures and crystallinity of products were characterized by FTIR, UV–visible, ¹H NMR spectra, and XRD patterns, respectively, to prove the copolymer chemical structures of hollow nanospheres. The thermal‐stability and solubility of PACP were improved compared with homopolymers (polyaniline and pyrrole). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3563–3572, 2008     

Hydroxyl-functionalized polyaniline nanospheres: tracing molecular interactions at the nanosurface via vitamin C sensing

Here, we report a synthesis of novel polyaniline nanospheres bearing mono- and bishydroxyl functional groups to trace the molecular interactions at the nanosurfaces through vitamin C sensing. Two new aniline monomers were synthesized via a tailor-made approach and polymerized to produce soluble and uniform polyaniline nanospheres. The structures of the monomers and polymers were characterized by NMR, FT-IR, and MS techniques, and the morphology of the nanomaterials was analyzed by SEM and TEM. The mechanistic aspects of the nanomaterial formations were analyzed by FT-IR and dynamic light scattering techniques. These studies revealed that the hydroxyl-functionalized monomers have strong hydrogen bonding at the monomer level and form spherical aggregates in water, which are templates for the polyaniline nanospheres 600 +/- 100 nm in size. A controlled synthesis was also carried out using aniline hydrochloride as an unsubstituted counterpart, which yields polyaniline nanofibers. WXRD analysis confirmed the presence of a sharp peak at lower angle at 2theta = 7.3 degrees ( d-spacing of 13.4 A) in hydroxyl-substituted nanospheres with respect to enhancement of solid-state ordered crystalline domains, whereas unsubstituted nanofibers were found to be highly amorphous. Vitamin C was employed as an analyte to trace the molecular interaction at the nanosphere surface and study the influence of nanosurface functionalization on the sensing ability of biomolecules. The bishydroxyl-functionalized polyaniline nanospheres were found to show efficient molecular interactions toward vitamin C, whereas nanospheres with a monohydroxyl group or unsubstituted nanofibers failed as sensing materials. In a nut shell, in the present investigation, for the first time, we have proved the importance of surface functionalization of polyaniline nanomaterial, exclusively nanospheres, using hydroxyl groups for studying the molecular interactions at the nanosurfaces with biomolecules such as vitamin C.     

Synthesis and characterization of polypyrrole dispersions prepared with different dopants

Stable polypyrrole dispersions were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in an aqueous medium containing different anionic salts - sodium benzoate, potassium hydrogen phthalate and sodium hydrogen succinate. Results of the elemental analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed that the anionic salts are incorporated in the conducting polymers and functioned as the dopants. The retardation of pyrrole polymerization was observed when a certain amount of the salt was used as dopant. SEM images of polypyrrole dispersions indicate large spherical particles (150-180nm). The conductivity of polypyrrole composites has also been investigated.     

Facile one‐pot synthesis and characterization of novel nanostructured organic dispersible polyaniline

Novel polyaniline (PANI) with nanotube, nanosheet, and nanofiber shapes was facilely synthesized by a self‐templating one‐pot process. Anilinium‐dodecylsulfate (DS) complex, obtained by mixing equivalent amounts of aniline and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), played a template‐like role in forming PANI nanostructures. It was found that the morphology and electrical conductivity of the PANI nanostructures changed with the amount of SDS and the reaction temperature. Nanotube‐shaped PANI synthesized at the temperature of anilinium‐DS complex formation in presence of SDS (concentration <0.12 M) showed high conductivity (12.9 S/cm). At higher temperature, the morphology changed to shape of a rose flower and electrical conductivity decreased to 3.95 S/cm. This suggested that both temperature and SDS concentration were key parameters for controlling the formation of the anilinium‐DS complex that acted as a template. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1024–1029, 2009     

Effect of the sulfonic acid group on copolymers of aniline and toluidine with m‐aminobenzene sulfonic acid

This article describes the results of the preparation and characterization of self‐doped conducting copolymers of aniline and toluidine with m‐aminobenzene sulfonic acid. The copolymers have an intrinsic acid group that is capable of doping polyaniline. Spectroscopic, morphological, and electrical conductivity studies have provided insight into the structural and electronic properties of the copolymers. The differences in the properties of polyaniline and polytoluidine due to the sulfonic acid ring substituent on the phenyl ring are discussed. The scanning electron micrographs of the copolymers reveal regions of sharp‐edged, needle‐shaped structures, whereas the X‐ray diffraction patterns show that the copolymers are relatively more crystalline in nature. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4065–4076, 2002     

Synthesis by plasma and characterization of bilayer aniline–pyrrole thin films doped with iodine

The synthesis by plasma and characterization of aniline–pyrrole bilayer polymers doped in situ with iodine were studied. The objective was to study the electrical conductivity of thin films composed of alternating layers of different polymers. The results indicated that the plasma technique is capable of forming chemically bonded layered polymers with several possible combinations. The electric conductivity was studied during heating–cooling cycles so the dependence of the bilayer polymers on temperature could be observed. The behavior was related with the Arrhenius model, with average activation energies of 0.4 ± 0.1 eV in the heating steps and 0.5 ± 0.1 eV in the cooling steps. The difference in both steps shows the influence of the aniline in the bilayer polymer network because polyaniline presents changes in the structure during heating processes. The bilayer aniline–pyrrole polymers had greater electric conductivity at room temperature than that shown by the separate homopolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1850–1856, 2002     

Single-walled carbon nanotube-based coaxial nanowires: synthesis, characterization, and electrical properties

We report herein the template-directed synthesis, characterization, and electric properties of single-walled carbon nanotube- (SWNT-) based coaxial nanowires, that is, core (SWNT)-shell (conducting polypyrrole and polyaniline) nanowires. The SWNTs were first dispersed in aqueous solutions containing cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or nonionic surfactant poly(ethylene glycol) mono-p-nonyl phenyl ether (O pi-10). Each individual nanotube (or small bundle) was then encased in its own micellelike envelope with hydrophobic surfactant groups orientated toward the nanotube and hydrophilic groups orientated toward the solution. And thus a hydrophobic region within the micelle/SWNT (called a micelle/SWNT hybrid template) was formed. Insertion and growth of pyrrole or aniline monomers in this hybrid template, upon removal of the surfactant, produce coaxial structures with a SWNT center and conducting polypyrrole or polyaniline coating. Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy were used to characterize the composition and the structures of these coaxial nanowires. The results revealed that the micellar molecules used could affect the surface morphologies of the resulting coaxial nanowires but not the molecular structures of the corresponding conducting polymers. Electric properties testing indicated that the SWNTs played the key roles in the conducting polymer/SWNT composites during electron transfer in the temperature range 77 K to room temperature. Compared with the SWNT network embedded in the conducting polymers, the composites within which SWNTs were coated perfectly by the identical conducting polymers exhibited higher barrier heights during electron transfer.     

Synthesis of core‐shell silver–polyaniline nanocomposites by gamma radiolysis method

Core‐shell silver (Ag)–polyaniline (PAni) nanocomposites have been synthesized by the in‐situ gamma radiation‐induced chemical polymerization method. Aqueous solution of aniline, a free‐radical oxidant, and/or silver metal salt were irradiated by γ‐rays. Reduction of the silver salt in aqueous aniline leads to the formation of silver nanoparticles which in turn catalyze oxidation of aniline to polyaniline. The resultant Ag‐PAni nanocomposites were characterized by using different spectroscopy analyses like X‐ray photoelectron, UV–visible, and infrared spectroscopy. The optical absorption bands revealed that the bands at about 400 nm are due to the presence of nanosilver and the blue‐shifted peak at ～ 555 nm is due to the presence of metallic silver within the PAni matrix. X‐ray diffraction pattern clearly indicates the broad amorphous polymer and the sharp metal peaks. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of the nanocomposite showed a uniform size distribution with spherical and granular morphology. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the composites have a higher degradation temperature than polyaniline alone. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5741–5747, 2007     

Thermoelectric power and conductivity of different types of polypyrrole

We have measured the thermoelectric power and conductivity as a function of temperature of a wide range of polypyrrole samples, including a film of soluble polypyrrole synthesized chemically, and wrinkled films synthesized using indium–tin oxide electrodes; other samples investigated include high‐conductivity polypyrrole films synthesized at different temperatures and current densities, films grown on nonconducting substrates, and polypyrrole gas sensors. The thermoelectric powers are remarkably similar and metal‐like for the medium and high conductivity samples but show nonzero extrapolations to zero temperature for wrinkled samples. The temperature dependence of conductivity tends to be greater for samples of lower conductivity. In contrast to polyaniline and polyacetylene, a crossover to metallic sign for the temperature dependence of conductivity at higher temperatures is not observed in any of our samples; the fluctuation‐induced tunnelling and variable‐range hopping expressions account for nearly all our conductivity data except for low‐temperature anomalies. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 953–960, 1999     

Preparation and characterization of polypyrrole/magnetite nanocomposites synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization

This work describes the preparation and characterization of polypyrrole (PPy)/iron oxide nanocomposites fabricated from monodispersed iron oxide nanoparticles in the crystalline form of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and PPy by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. Two spherical nanoparticles of magnetite, such as 4 and 8 nm, served as cores were first dispersed in an aqueous solution with anionic surfactant sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate to form micelle/magnetite spherical templates that avoid the aggregation of magnetite nanoparticles during the further preparation of nanocomposites. The PPy/magnetite nanocomposites were then synthesized on the surface of the spherical templates. Structural and morphological analysis showed that the fabricated PPy/magnetite nanocomposites are core (magnetite)‐shell (PPy) structures. Morphology of the PPy/magnetite nanocomposites containing monodispersed 4‐nm magnetite nanoparticles shows a remarkable change from spherical to tube‐like structures as the content of nanoparticles increases from 12 to 24 wt %. Conductivities of these PPy/magnetite nanocomposites show significant enhancements when compared with those of PPy without magnetite nanoparticles, in particular the conductivities of 36 wt % PPy/magnetite nanocomposites with 4‐nm magnetite nanoparticles are about six times in magnitude higher than those of PPy without magnetite nanocomposites. These results suggest that the tube‐like structures of 36 wt % PPy/magnetite nanocomposites may be served as conducting network to enhance the conductivity of nanocomposites. The magnetic properties of 24 and 36 wt % PPy/magnetitenanocomposites show ferromagnetic behavior and supermagnetism, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1291–1300, 2008     

Polypyrrole-coated natural rubber latex by admicellar polymerization

Admicellar polymerization has been used for the preparation of an electrically conductive polypyrrole coating on latex particles. An anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), was adsorbed onto natural rubber (NR) latex particles to form the surfactant bilayers after adjusting the pH below the point of zero charge of the latex surface. Adsorption of SDS and pyrrole adsolubilization were determined as a function of pyrrole and sodium chloride concentrations. Pyrrole caused a decrease in SDS adsorption at equilibrium. Sodium chloride increased the surfactant adsorption and the pyrrole adsolubilization. Thermogravimetric results showed the presence of polypyrrole. The conductivity of the polypyrrole-coated NR latex film prepared by admicellar polymerization without salt was the lowest; however, with salt addition, the conductivity of the film improved significantly. The oxidative polymerization technique resulted in a relatively higher conductivity than oxidative admicellar polymerization.     

In situ polymerization and morphology of polypyrrole obtained in water‐soluble polymer templates

Several water‐soluble polymers were used as templates for the in situ polymerization of pyrrole to determine their effect on the generation of nanosized polypyrrole (PPy) particles. The polymers used include: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), poly(vinyl butyral), polystyrene sulfonic acid, poly(ethylene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) (PEMA), poly(octadecene‐alt‐maleic anhydride), poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(vinyl butyral‐co‐vinyl alcohol‐co‐vinyl acetate), poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide), poly(ethylene oxide‐block‐propylene oxide), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and guar gum. The oxidative polymerization of pyrrole was carried out with FeCl₃ as an oxidant. The morphology of PPy particles obtained after drying the resulting aqueous dispersions was examined by optical microscopy, and selected samples were further analyzed via atomic force microscopy. Among the template polymers, PVA was the most efficient in generating stable dispersions of PPy nanospheres in water, followed by PEO and PEMA. The average size of PPy nanospheres was in the range of 160 nm and found to depend on the molecular weight and concentration of PVA. Model reactions and kinetics of the polymerization reaction of pyrrole in PVA were carried out by hydrogen ¹H NMR spectroscopy using ammonium persulfate as an oxidant. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Chemical synthesis and characterization of poly(aniline‐co‐ethyl 3‐aminobenzoate) copolymers

Copolymers of aniline and ethyl 3‐aminobenzoate (3EAB) were synthesized by chemical polymerization in several mole ratios of aniline to functionalized aniline, and their physicochemical properties were compared to those of poly(aniline‐co‐3‐aminobenzoic acid) (3ABAPANI) copolymers. The copolymers were characterized with UV–vis, FTIR, Raman, SEM, EPR, and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and conductivity measurements. The influence of the carboxylic acid and ester group ring substituents on the copolymers was investigated. The spectroscopic studies confirmed incorporation of 3ABA or 3EAB units in the copolymers and hence the presence of C?O group in the copolymer chains. The conductivity and EPR signals both decreased with increasing 3EAB content of the copolymers emeraldine salt (ES) form. The conductivity of the ES form of 3ABAPANI was found to be high (1.4 × 10^?1 S cm^?1) compared with the conductivity (10^?2–10^?3 S cm^?1) of 3EABPANI (ES) copolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1339–1347, 2010     

Nano‐emulsion use for the synthesis of polyaniline nano‐grains or nano‐fibers

We report that nano‐emulsions can be creatively used as a morphology selective synthesis method to prepare not only nano‐grains but also nano‐fibers with high selectivity. Synthesis of the two different morphological materials was demonstrated using polyaniline synthesis as a model case. Polyaniline nano‐grains were synthesized from aniline molecules in nano‐size aqueous droplets as polymerization sites whose droplets were generated by inverse water‐in‐oil nano‐emulsion use, and polyaniline nano‐fibers were synthesized from aniline in aqueous nano‐dimensional channels as polymerization sites whose channels were generated by direct oil‐in‐water nano‐emulsion use containing high population of oil droplets. Using the approaches, we successfully synthesized nano‐fibers of 60 nm diameter with 0.5 µm length and also nano‐grains having diameter of 60–80 nm. The two different polymerization sites of nano‐scale dimension were made by changing the ratio among surfactant, aqueous aniline/HCl solution, and oil, i.e. organic solvent. We found the nano‐fibers synthesized from the channels formed by the direct oil‐in‐water nano‐emulsion have higher bulk electrical conductivity than the nano‐grains which were synthesized from the droplets formed by the inverse water‐in‐oil emulsion. We also found that the emulsion use allows us to use a room temperature synthesis unlike conventional synthesis methods which require to use ice bath temperature. Physical properties of both nano‐fibers and nano‐grains synthesized were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–Vis spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and four probes conductivity measurement. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly conductive soluble terpolymers of aniline,toluidine, and o‐aminobenzoic acid/m‐aminobenzenesulfonic acid

Two series of terpolymers, one of o‐/m‐toluidine and aniline with o‐aminobenzoic acid and the other of o‐/m‐toluidine and aniline with m‐aminobenzenesulfonic acid, have been synthesized by oxidative polymerization via an emulsion method with ammonium persulfate as the oxidant and HCl as the external dopant. The terpolymers exhibit excellent solubility and retain the high conductivity (∼1 S cm⁻¹) characteristic of the unsubstituted homopolymer, polyaniline. The terpolymers also possess higher thermal stability than polyaniline. This can be attributed to the presence of internal doping groups and substituents, which introduce flexibility to the otherwise rigid polyaniline backbone. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3040–3048, 2005     

Room Temperature Bulk Synthesis of Silver Nanocables Wrapped with Polypyrrole

Wet chemical synthesis of silver cables wrapped with polypyrrole is reported in aqueous media without use of any surfactant/capping agent and/or template. The method employs direct polymerization of pyrrole in an aqueous solution with AgNO₃ as an oxidizing agent. The four probe conductivity results for the as‐synthesized silver nanocables of polypyrrole films were found to be 3, 5, 5, and 9 S · cm⁻¹ for a 1: 2, 1: 1, 1: 0.5, and 1: 0.1 silver‐to‐pyrrole ratio, respectively. This approach can be extended to other monomers such as aniline and N‐methylaniline (NMA) to prepare different morphologies of silver nanostructures. Aniline monomer polymerization occurred at room temperature to produce a coating of a silver mirror on the side walls of the glass vial, as in the case of Tollen's process of making silver mirrors. The silver mirror coating strategy was extended to a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) surface and the resistivity of the polyaniline‐coated Ag nanocomposites were measured and found to be semiconducting.

     

XPS investigation of water‐soluble copolymer surfactants on interface

The possible molecule conformation of a new type of polymer surfactant at air/solid interface, acrylamide‐poly(oxyethylene alkyl ether)acrylate‐anionic monomer random copolymers, was studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy in detail. By means of changing the detection angle, group composition at surface layer in thickness of 0 ∼ 2.5 nm can be obtained. The results show that the surface activity of the copolymers related closely with the conformation of the groups of the copolymers. The hydrophobic backbone of the copolymer plays the most important role in enhancing surface activity. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2297–2302, 1999     

Polyurethane–oligo(phenylenevinylene) random copolymers: π‐Conjugated pores,vesicles, and nanospheres via solvent‐induced self‐organization

We report a new series of polyurethane–oligo(phenylenevinylene) (OPV) random copolymers and their self‐assembled nanomaterials such as pores, vesicles, and luminescent spheres. The polymers were synthesized through melt transurethane process by reacting a hydroxyl‐functionalized OPV with diurethane monomer and diol under solvent‐free and nonisocyanate conditions. The amount of OPV was varied up to 50 mol % in the feed to incorporate various amounts of π‐conjugated segments in the polyurethane backbone. The π‐conjugated segmented polymers were subjected to solvent induced self‐organization in THF or THF+water to produce variety of morphologies ranging from pores (500 nm to 1 μm) to spheres (100 nm to 2 μm). Upon shining 370‐nm light, the dark solid nanospheres of the copolymers transformed into blue luminescent nanoballs under fluorescence microscope. The mechanistic aspects of the self‐organization process were studied using solution FTIR and photophysical techniques such as absorption and emission to trace the factors which control the morphology. FTIR studies revealed that the hydrogen bonding plays a significant role in the copolymers with lower amount of OPV units. Time resolved fluorescent decay measurements of copolymers revealed that molecular aggregation via π‐conjugated segments play a major role in the samples with higher OPV content in the random block polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 46: 5897–5915, 2008     

Formation mechanism of polyaniline microtubules synthesized by a template‐free method

A template‐like model, which was an aniline salt formed with β‐naphthalene sulfornic acid (β‐NSA) as a dopant, was proposed to interpret the formation mechanism of polyaniline (PANI) microtubules doped with β‐NSA by a template‐free method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction measurements confirmed this model. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2359–2364, 2000