Use of poly(ethylene terephthalate) track membranes as template matrices for the preparation of polymeric nanomaterials based on polypyrrole and poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpyrrole)

The oxidative polymerization of pyrrole and N-methylpyrrole with the use of template synthesis on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) track membranes was studied. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was found that a polymer film was formed on the surface of membranes and on the walls of membrane pores. The rates of polymerization on the surface of membranes and pore walls, as well as the yield and structure of the polymer film, depend on the membrane parameters (pore length and diameter and membrane porosity), the chemical structure of the monomer, the diffusion of polymerized solutions through template pores, and the temperature.Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2005, pp. 15–20.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Dobretsova, Ermolaev, Jitariouk, Milinchuk.     

The effect of a polypyrrole coating on the thermal stability of microporous polyethylene membranes

Microporous polyethylene (PE) membranes were coated on both sides with a polypyrrole (PPy) overlayer. PPy was deposited also on the walls of pores. Thermodeformation measurements indicate that the hard framework produced by rigid-chain PPy controls the mechanical properties of composite membranes. FTIR spectroscopy was used to detect oxidative processes in both polymer components above 200 °C. Elemental analysis showed that the nitrogen content remains at high level, even after the treatment of membranes in air at 300 °C, indicating that the decomposition involved mainly PE while PPy was much more stable. The changes in surface relief after annealing were assessed with electron microscopy. No oxidative processes were identified in the FTIR spectra of composites after annealing in vacuum, even after treatment at 300 °C.     

The importance of the film structure during self-powered ibuprofen salicylate drug release from polypyrrole electrodeposited on AZ31 Mg

Therapeutic drugs uploaded into conjugated conductive polymer matrices deposited on active magnesium alloys serve as controlled-dose, self-powered drug-delivery systems. Preferentially, drugs are added into polymer films in the largest amount possible, mostly to prevent long-term treatments. However, added drugs can interact with the polymer matrix affecting either the structure or the final mechanical properties of the polymer film. In this work, polypyrrole films (PPy) electrodeposited on an AZ31 Mg alloy in ibuprofen and salicylate-containing solutions are investigated in terms of their uploading capacity, surface morphology and mechanical properties. The techniques used to investigate the uploaded PPy films include cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS, and depth-sensing indentation (DSI). A maximum ibuprofen concentration of 440 ± 40 μg cm^?2 was obtained in PPy films in the presence of sodium salicylate. The release fraction of ibuprofen as a function of time is fitted to Avrami’s equation. The hardness and reduced modulus decreased by 54 and 40 %, respectively, when the PPy films are prepared in the presence of sodium ibuprofen compared with those prepared in sodium salicylate only, indicating a more plastic film with ibuprofen.     

金表面聚合物刷及图案化微结构的制备

采用表面引发室温原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)方法在金基底上原位制备了接枝聚合物刷,其制备过程用厚度测量,ATR-FTIR,XPS等进行了表征,初始时聚合物刷的厚度随着聚合时间的增加线性增加,表现为活性聚合的特征．XPS表征证明表面引发聚合后聚合物刷末端仍然存在ATRP反应的引发剂．紫外光刻图案化的聚合物刷作为电沉积的模板,经电沉积、后紫外处理、湿化学刻蚀步骤后得到了分离的导电聚合物微阵列结构,通过浇注／粘附处理将导电聚合物微阵列转移至硅油弹性体片,由于导电聚合物在湿化学刻蚀中对基底金具有良好的保护作用,因此在导电聚合物阵列被转移后,基底表面得到金微阵列。     

Nanoscale degradation of polypyrrole films under oxidative stress: An atomic force microscopy study and review

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is employed to monitor the surface morphology of polypyrrole (PPy) films grown on vitreous carbon substrates during the catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The morphology of freshly-prepared films depends on substrate characteristics. Upon reaction, uniform nodules of aggregated PPy clusters appear. No significant differences in surface morphology are found between its oxidized and reduced forms. Loss of catalytic activity after 8-9 oxidation/reduction cycles of exposure to the chromate solution (oxidation) and electrochemical recharging of the film at negative potentials (reduction) correlates well with the observed polymer film dissolution/detachment from the carbon substrate. Formation of well-defined circular features (PPy rings) at different stages leads to a model for the film degradation process that includes formation of Cl₂ gas inside the polymer matrix. In the final stages, the bulk of the film typically fractures and detaches from the electrode. A catalytically inactive, ultrathin PPy layer remains on the substrate even after prolonged exposure to the target solution. A review of techniques for the study of PPy aging/degradation is given.     

Supported particle track etched polyimide membranes: a grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering study

Particle track etched polyimide membranes on silicon substrates covered with a native oxide layer are investigated. Preparation steps similar to the common classical particle track etched membrane production, giving rise to free-standing membranes, are successfully applied to the supported membranes. Polyimide films are used as a starting material for a template preparation based on high energy ion irradiation. The film/membrane structure is probed at different length scales by grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering at each individual preparation step. In addition, characterization with atomic force microscopy, variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared transmission, and attenuated total reflection spectroscopy is performed. An amount of 6 +/- 1 vol % pores inside the polyimide film is detected. The pores are oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface and have a conical shape, yielding a slightly reduced pore size at the substrate/film interface.     

Verification of a capillary model for the electroosmotic transport of a free solvent in ion-exchange membranes of different natures

It has been shown that the transport of a free solvent through ion-exchange membranes of different structural types in NaCl solutions can be calculated within the framework of the capillary model for electroosmotic transport on the basis of data on pore-radius distribution, exchange capacity, internal specific surface area, and concentration dependences of membrane electrical conductivity. The electrolyte-solution concentration range has been determined in which the convergence is observed between the data calculated in terms of the model and the results of the independent experimental determination of the numbers of water transport through the membranes. The fraction of through pores in the structure of an ion-exchange membrane has been found, and it has been shown that this fraction depends on the structural type of a polymer film alone.     

Application of Al2O3 in the electrosynthesis of polypyrrole with fuzzy morphology—Microtentacle

Polypyrrole (PPy) thin films were electrochemically polymerized onto the electrode surface. In this study alumina was used as the template and PPy film was prepared by electrochemical polymerization using Al/Al₂O₃ as the working electrode. Surface morphology of PPy was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the results revealed that the application of the template resulted in PPy with fantastic surface morphology which was called microtentacle and the length of the tentacle could reach 15 µm. The morphology can evidently increase the roughness, thus the surface area of the electrode substrate, and provide an intimate contact with the surrounding brain tissue compared to the hard, stiff metal surface. Relationship between PPy morphology and electrochemical polymerization parameters, such as polymerization time, was investigated. The study provided a fundamental method to prepare a PPy‐modified electrode with high surface area. Potential application of the study is proposed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simple PVC–PPy electrode for pH measurement and titrations

Cobaltabis(dicarbollide) [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)](-)-doped polypyrrole (PPy) films have been prepared galvanostatically on glassy carbon electrodes in acetonitrile solution. The potential response behavior of the film of this new material has been investigated in some common pH buffers and in acid-base titrations. The potentiometric characteristics of the resulting films are indicative of a quasi-Nernstian response (approximately 50 mV/pH unit), a linearity range from pH 12 to 3 and correlation coefficients (r2) of approximately 0.98. The electrode is suitable for pH measurements and for monoprotic titrations of strong alkalis with strong acids, and weak bases with strong acids, but the long response time hinders the use of this electrode for multiprotic titrations. The time response has been dramatically improved by reducing the film thickness by using the template effect of a non-conducting polymer (PVC) cast over the graphite surface before PPy deposition. PPy polymerization occurs in the free channels of PVC leading to the formation of PPy wires. The morphological change of PPy does not affect the slope or linearity range. The response of the PVC-PPy electrochemical sensor is rapid and the sensor is easy to prepare, at low cost, and its performance is comparable with that of commercial glass electrodes.     

Characteristics of polypyrrole (PPy) nano-tubules made by templated ac electropolymerization

Electrochemical alternating current (ac) method designed for the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) nano-tubule arrays is the topic of this paper. Two-step anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane is used as a template. The morphology of PPy nano-tubules is observed by SEM and discussed. FTIR spectra exhibit that the peaks of PPy nano-tubules shift compared to conventional PPy film.     

Redox-induced surface stress of polypyrrole-based actuators

We measure the surface stress induced by electrochemical transformations of a thin conducting polymer film. One side of a micromechanical cantilever-based sensor is covered with an electropolymerized dodecyl benzenesulfonate-doped polypyrrole (PPyDBS) film. The microcantilever serves as both the working electrode (in a conventional three-electrode cell configuration) and as the mechanical transducer for simultaneous, in situ, and real-time measurements of the current and interfacial stress changes. A compressive change in surface stress of about -2 N/m is observed when the conducting polymer is electrochemically switched between its oxidized (PPy+) and neutral (PPy0) state by cyclic voltammetry. The surface stress sensor's response during the anomalous first reductive scan is examined. The effect of long-term cycling on the mechanical transformation ability of PPy(DBS) films in both surfactant and halide-based electrolytes is also discussed. We have identified two main competing origins of surface stress acting on the PPy(DBS)/ gold-coated microcantilever: one purely mechanical due to the volume change of the conducting polymer, and a second charge-induced, owing to the interaction of anions of the supporting electrolyte with the gold surface.     

聚吡咯/碳纳米管分子印迹修饰电极对槲皮素的选择性测定

制备了一种新颖的可对槲皮素分子进行选择性测定的分子印迹聚合物膜修饰电极.在碳纳米管(CNT)独特的结构和力学性能作用下,以吡咯(Py)为功能单体,槲皮素为模板分子,电聚合方法制备了槲皮素的分子印迹聚合物膜修饰电极(PPy/CNT/GCEMIP).用电化学交流阻抗法研究了该修饰电极的界面性质,用循环伏安法和差分脉冲伏安法...     

Thin Pd membrane on α-Al2O3 hollow fiber substrate without any interlayer by electroless plating combined with embedding Pd catalyst in polymer template

Palladium acetate and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) were dissolved in chloroform to form a homogeneous solution. Using this solution, thin polymer template film with embedded Pd catalyst was coated on a porous α-Al₂O₃ hollow fiber substrate. The Pd in the template film was used as the catalyst for electroless plating of Pd membranes. After the template was removed by heat treatment, the thin Pd membranes without any intermediate layers and substrate penetration were synthesized successfully. The as-synthesized Pd composite membranes of thickness less than 5 μm not only have a very high hydrogen permeance/permeability but also have a good hydrogen selectivity. Moreover, the good membrane stability was verified by the long-term operation under the condition of hydrogen permeation and the gas exchange cycles between pure hydrogen and pure helium. The good membrane stability was interpreted by estimating the shear stress of the special membrane configuration with small gap between Pd membrane and porous substrate layer.     

聚ε-己内酯/聚吡咯电纺膜的制备与性能

以吡咯(Py)和聚ε-己内酯(PCL)为原料、氯仿为溶剂,并掺杂一定量的十二烷基硫酸钠制备电纺膜,利用三氯化铁的氧化作用原位生成聚吡咯(PPy).对所得到的PCL/PPy电纺膜用红外光谱进行表征,在扫描电镜和透射电镜下观察纤维形貌,并测定力学性能和体积电阻率.结果表明,所生成的PPy以纳米粒子形式附着在电纺纤维表面,随着Py相对于PCL的质量百分含量由0增加到20%,PCL/PPy电纺膜的纤维直径从(730±341)nm逐渐下降至(325±84)nm;膜的拉伸模量和拉伸强度由不含Py的(25.7±0.8)MPa和(2.48±0.14)MPa分别增加至含有20%Py的(48.4±7.6)MPa和(5.05±0.59)MPa,断裂伸长率由(129±27)%下降至(86.2±9.1)%;体积电阻率降低了2～3个数量级.该PCL/PPy电纺纤维膜以期可作为电活性材料用于功能或生物医用领域.     

Electrochemical synthesis of polypyrrole/polyimide conducting composite using a polyamic acid precursor

Conducting polymer/poly(amic acid) composites were synthesized by casting poly(amic acid) (PAAc)film onto the surface of stainless steel followed by electrochemical deposition of polypyrrole. Polypyrrole/polyimide (PPy/PI) composites were also formed by preimidizing the polyamic acid film prior to electrodeposition of PPy. The electrical resistance of the bottom side of PPy/PAAc composite (2.3 Ω cm) was lower than that of the PPy/PI composite (6.4 Ω cm), the thickness of the matrix was the same. A PI matrix was used for electropolymerization of pyrrole. The electrodeposition was investigated by using different current densities. IR spectroscopy revealed interactions between the PAAc and PPy in the composite.     

钴离子配位分子印迹聚合物膜渗透特性的研究

采用分子印迹技术紫外光引发原位聚合的方法制备了带支撑膜的钴离子配位分子印迹聚合物膜. 用扫描电镜测定了膜的表面形貌. 通过膜渗透实验表明, 在一定浓度钴离子存在下, 印迹膜对模板分子表现出良好的渗透选择性. 分别考察了阳离子和阴离子对印迹膜渗透模板分子的影响. 本工作有助于分子印迹技术应用于传感器技术和连续分离技术的研究.     

Preparation and Properties of Composite Polypyrrole/Pt Catalyst Systems

Three different methods for the preparation and modification of conducting polymer/noble metal catalyst systems consisting of polypyrrole (PPy) and platinum (Pt) are described for the anodic oxidation of methanol. The first method consists of the electrochemical deposition of a thin PPy film on glassy carbon substrate, which is modified with Pt either by electroreduction of hexachloroplatinate, codeposition from a nanodispersed Pt solution, or incorporation of tetrachloroplatinate as counterion followed by cathodic reduction. A second method is based on the preparation of nanoscale PPy(PSS) particles by chemical polymerization with polystyrenesulfonate PSS^– as the counterion. This material is a favorable catalyst support for nanodispersed Pt due to its mixed electronic and cationic conductivity. To study the electrochemical properties, the particulate system PPy(PSS)/Pt is fixed in a carbon fiber electrode. A third method was developed which brings the polypyrrole in close contact to a proton exchanger membrane (Nafion) using a special chemical deposition procedure. This method is useful for preparing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) consisting of Nafion/PPy/Pt. The structural, morphological, and electrocatalytic properties for methanol oxidation were studied depending on the preparation method applied using surface analytical techniques (TEM, SEM, and EDX) and electrochemical measurements (cyclic voltammetry and transient techniques).     

聚吡咯微粒掺入的聚苯乙烯膜在电解质溶液中的介电弛豫谱及其解析

在40 Hz～11 MHz频率范围测量了聚苯乙烯膜以及混入聚吡咯粒子的聚苯乙烯膜和电解质溶液构成的体系的介电谱, 发现了特异的弛豫现象: 纯的和掺入导电性聚吡咯后的聚苯乙烯膜分别显示出单一弛豫和双弛豫的不同模式的介电谱. 在Maxwell-Wagner界面极化概念基础上解释了该弛豫机制: 高、低频弛豫分别由膜-液界面极化和膜相本身的不均一性引起的. 将体系进行了模型化, 并利用Hanai理论方法对谱进行了解析, 获得了内部电性质的诸多参数. 对不同聚吡咯掺入量的膜/溶液体系的介电测量和解析结果表明, 电解质溶液的种类、浓度以及膜中混入聚吡咯的量都影响着膜相的介电响应. 这些结论为利用加入导电粒子改善绝缘高分子聚合物的电性质的研究以及制备既具有导电功能又使基体的力学性能得到提高的高分子复合物提供了重要的线索.     

Minimizing analyte electrolysis in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using a redox buffer coated emitter electrode

An emitter electrode with an electroactive poly(pyrrole) (PPy) polymer film coating was constructed for use in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). The PPy film acted as a surface‐attached redox buffer limiting the interfacial potential of the emitter electrode. While extensive oxidation of selected analytes (reserpine and amodiaquine) was observed in positive ion mode ESI using a bare metal (gold) emitter electrode, the oxidation was suppressed for these same analytes when using the PPy‐coated electrode. A semi‐quantitative relationship between the rate of oxidation observed and the interfacial potential of the emitter electrode was shown. The redox buffer capacity, and therefore the lifetime of the redox buffering effect, correlated with the oxidation potential of the analyte and with the magnitude of the film charge capacity. Online reduction of the PPy polymer layer using negative ion mode ESI between analyte injections was shown to successfully restore the redox buffering capacity of the polymer film to its initial state. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carboxy-endcapped conductive polypyrrole: biomimetic conducting polymer for cell scaffolds and electrodes

Numerous regenerating tissues respond favorably to electrical stimulation, creating a need for a bioactive conducting platform for tissue engineering applications. The drive for biosensors and electrode coatings further requires control of the surface properties of promising conductive materials such as polypyrrole. Here we present carboxy-endcapped polypyrrole (PPy-alpha-COOH), a unique bioactive conducting polymer with a carboxylic acid layer, composed of a polypyrrole (PPy) surface modified with pyrrole-alpha-carboxylic acid (Py-alpha-COOH). This unique structure is simple to produce, provides a stable bioactive surface via covalent bonds, and preserves bulk properties such as electrical conductivity and mechanical integrity. The chemical structure of this polymer composite was characterized by angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which demonstrated the presence of carboxylic acid functionality on the top surface of conductive PPy. A four-point probe test was used to verify the similar conductivity of PPy-alpha-COOH compared to that of standard PPy. To demonstrate the potential to influence cellular activity, the carboxylic acid monolayer surface was grafted with the cell-adhesive Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured on RGD-modified PPy-alpha-COOH demonstrated significantly higher adhesion and spreading than on the negative controls PPy-alpha-COOH and unmodified PPy.