A novel potential-triggered SBA-15/PANI/PSS composite film for selective removal of lead ions from wastewater

In this study, a novel potential-triggered electroactive composite film consisting of mesoporous silica SBA-15, polyaniline (PANI), and polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) was fabricated in an aqueous electrolyte solution via a facile pulse potentiostatic method. The obtained composite film was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ion exchange properties were evaluated in a solution containing 0.1 M Pb(NO₃)₂ by using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. It was found that the uptake/release of Pb²⁺ ions in/from SBA-15/PANI/PSS composite film was successfully achieved by modulating the redox states of the electroactive composite film, and the composite film exhibited different ion exchange behaviors at different scan rates. Based on these results, the ion exchange mechanism was proposed. Compared with the PANI/PSS composite film, the SBA-15/PANI/PSS composite film had higher adsorption capacity as well as higher selectivity toward Pb²⁺ ions, which should be attributed to the 3D porous morphology of the composite film with more active sites in the mesoporous SBA-15. Remarkably, the film maintained a high stability over 97% even after 500 successive cycles. It is expected that this SBA-15/PANI/PSS composite film can serve as a promising electroactive material for the effective separation of Pb²⁺ ions from wastewater.

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Graphical abstract ?

     

A kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition of polyaniline/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite

Synthesis, characterization and thermal analysis of polyaniline (PANI)/ZrO₂ composite and PANI was reported in our early work. In this present, the kinetic analysis of decomposition process for these two materials was performed under non-isothermal conditions. The activation energies were calculated through Friedman and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall methods, and the possible kinetic model functions have been estimated through the multiple linear regression method. The results show that the kinetic models for the decomposition process of PANI/ZrO₂ composite and PANI are all D₃, and the corresponding function is ƒ(α)=1.5(1−α)^2/3[1−(1-α)^1/3]−1. The correlated kinetic parameters are E _a=112.7±9.2 kJ mol⁻¹, lnA=13.9 and E _a=81.8±5.6 kJ mol⁻¹, lnA=8.8 for PANI/ZrO₂ composite and PANI, respectively.     

Mixed-conducting dense ceramic membranes for air separation and natural gas conversion

Non-perovskite SrFeCo_0.5O _x (SFC2) was found to have high electronic and ionic conductivities as well as structural stability. At 800°C in air, total and ionic conductivities of 17 and 7 S·cm⁻¹ were measured, respectively; the ionic transference number was calculated to be ≈0.4. This material is unique because of its high electronic conductivity and comparable electronic and ionic transference numbers. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that air-sintered SFC2 consists of three phase components, ≈75 wt% , ≈20 wt% perovskite , and ≈5 wt% rock salt CoO. Argon-annealed SFC2 contains brownmillerite Sr₂(Fe_1−x Co _x )₂O₅ and rock salt CoO. Dense SFC2 membranes were able to withstand large pO₂ gradients and retain mechanical strength. A 2.9-mm-thick disk membrane was tested in a gas-tight electrochemical cell at 900°C; an oxygen permeation flux rate ≈2.5 cm³(STP)·cm⁻²·min⁻¹ was measured. A dense thin-wall tubular membrane of 0.75-mm thickness was tested in a methane conversion reactor for over 1,000 h. At 950°C, the oxygen permeation flux rate was ≈10 cm³(STP)·cm⁻²·min⁻¹ when the SFC2 thin-wall membrane was exposed with one side to air and the other side to 80% methane balanced with inert gas. Results from these two independent experiments agreed well. The SFC2 material is a good candidate as dense ceramic membranes for oxygen separation from air or for use in methane conversion reactors.     

Palladized aluminum as a novel substrate for electrosynthesis of polyaniline in sulfuric acid solutions

The electropolymerization of aniline on a palladized aluminum electrode (Pd/Al) by potentiodynamic as well as potentiostatic methods is described. The effect of the monomer concentration between 0.01 and 0.4 M on the polyaniline (PANI) formation and its growth on the Pd/Al electrode was investigated and a suitable concentration of 0.2 M is suggested. A similar study was carried out to investigate the effect of sulfuric acid concentration and 0.1 M sulfuric acid was chosen. A study on the influence of electropalladization time on the polymer formation and its growth suggested a convenient time of 40 s. The stability of the PANI film on the Pd/Al electrode was studied as function of the potential imposed on the electrode. For applied electrode potentials of 0.1–0.7 V, the first-order degradation rate constant, k, of PANI film varies between 1×10⁻⁶ and 2×10⁻⁵ s⁻¹, and a relatively low slope (i.e., 2.2) was obtained for the plot of log k versus E. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cyclic voltammetric behavior of the PANI-deposited Pd/Al electrode is discussed. The electrocatalytic activity of the PANI-deposited Pd/Al electrode against para-benzoquinone/hydroquinone (Q/H₂Q) and redox systems were investigated and on the basis of of the corresponding cyclic voltammograms and the redox systems were identified as the reversible and quasi-reversible systems, respectively.     

Poly(vinylferrocenium) perchlorate–polyaniline composite film-coated electrode for amperometric determination of hydroquinone

Poly(vinylferrocenium) perchlorate–polyaniline (PVF⁺–PANI) composite film was synthesized electrochemically on Pt electrode in a methylene chloride solution containing a mixture of poly(vinylferrocene) (PVF) polymer and aniline monomer. PVF⁺ polymer in the composite film was used as an electron transfer mediator. The composite coating showed significant electrochemical activity towards hydroquinone (HQ) at pH 4, with high sensitivity and a wide linearity range. The interaction of HQ with PVF⁺ and PANI homopolymer films was investigated electrochemically and spectroscopically. HQ molecules are accumulated on the electrode surface due to trapping by both polymers in the composite film and then oxidized catalytically by PANI. The most significant contribution of PVF⁺ polymer is that it facilitates electron transfer in the composite film. The linear response range was found to be between 1.60 × 10⁻⁴ mM and 115 mM (R ² = 0.999) at 0.45 V vs saturated calomel electrode. The limit of detection (LOD) was 4.94 × 10⁻⁵ mM.     

Interactions in the subsolidus region of the Na2MoO4-NiMoO4-Fe2(MoO4)3 system

Phase relations have been investigated in the subsolidus region of the Na₂MoO₄-NiMoO₄-Fe₂(MoO₄)₃ system by X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy. The phase of variable composition Na_1−x Ni_1−x Fe_1+x (MoO₄)₃(0≤x≤0.5) with the NASICON structure (space group R c) and the NaNi₃Fe(MoO₄)₅ ternary molybdate crystallizing in the triclinic crystal system (space group P ) have been obtained. A high conductivity was found in Na_1−x Ni_1−x Fe_1+x (MoO₄)₃, which allows one to consider this phase of variable composition as a promising solid electrolyte with sodium ion conduction. Original Russian Text ? N.M. Kozhevnikova, A.V. Imekhenova, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 695–700.     

Electrochemical codeposition of nickel oxide and polyaniline

Nickel oxide (NiO_x) and polyaniline (PAni) were electrocodeposited from NiSO₄ and aniline through cyclic voltammetric scans to afford PAni–NiO_x composite film at controlled pH environment. The electrochemical activities of the film were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M H₂SO₄, respectively. Typical redox couples of PAni in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ appeared at approximately 0.2 and 0.4 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE); Ni(II)/Ni(III) redox couple was observed at approximately 0.4 V vs. SCE in 0.1 M NaOH. The morphologies and elemental components of the films were inspected by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. The stability of nickel oxide in the films was found to be enhanced against acidic environments. Electrochemical catalytic behavior of NiO_x within the composite film was conserved and demonstrated by catalytic oxidation of methanol and ethanol.     

Characterization and electrochemical study of hemoglobin–carbon nanoparticles–polyvinyl alcohol nanoporous hybrid film

A hybrid film is fabricated by casting hemoglobin (Hb)–carbon nanoparticles (CNPs)–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) suspension on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The resulting film shows a three-dimensional nanoporous structure. In the hybrid film, the ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra of Hb keep almost unchanged. The organic–inorganic hybrid material can promote the direct electron transfer of Hb. A pair of well-defined and quasireversible peaks with a formal potential of −0.348 V (vs saturated calomel electrode) is obtained, which is caused by the electrochemical reaction of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple of Hb. The electron transfer rate constant (k _s) is estimated to be 3.9 s⁻¹. The immobilized Hb exhibits high stability and excellent electrochemical catalysis to the reduction of oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and nitrite (). The catalytic currents are linear to the concentrations of H₂O₂ and from 1.96 to 112 μM and from 0.2 to 1.8 mM, respectively. Therefore, the hybrid film may be a good matrix for protein immobilization and biosensor fabrication.     

Interlaced polyaniline/carbon nanotube nanocomposite co-electrodeposited on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes/Ti for high-performance supercapacitors

A series of PANI-CNTs/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes were fabricated via pulse current co-electrodeposition of polyaniline and functionalized carbon nanotubes onto TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes. FT-IR spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were applied in order to characterize the modified TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes. The morphology studies showed that the PANI-CNTs/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti nanocomposite electrode has many interlaced PANI-CNTs nanorods on the surface of TiO₂ nanotubes. The electrochemical measurements of the modified electrodes confirmed that the CNTs in the composite can significantly improve the capacitive behavior as well which have been compared with that of PANI/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes. The modified electrode exhibited much higher specific capacitance (190 mF cm^?2 with 90% retention after 1000 cycles) compared to the PANI/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti (70 mF cm^?2 with 77% retention after 1000 cycles) at a current density of 0.85 mA cm^?2, indicating its great potential for supercapacitor applications.

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Graphical abstract Interlaced polyaniline/carbon nanotube nanocomposite electrodeposited on TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti

     

Electrochemical nanogravimetric study on the ruthenium(III) trichloride–polyaniline nanocomposite

Ruthenium(III) trichloride microcrystals were soaked in aniline and aniline/acetonitrile mixtures. In all cases, polyaniline (PANI) was formed as a result of the intercalation of aniline into the layered structure of RuCl₃ crystal and the reaction between aniline and the host material. The appearance of polyaniline was proven by infrared spectroscopy. The as-formed (PANI) _x ^z+(RuCl₃) _y ^z− nanocomposites were attached to gold surfaces and studied by cyclic electrochemical nanogravimetry. The sorption of aniline and its effect on the nanocomposites immobilized on gold were also studied in supporting electrolytes. The redox behaviour of the composite shows the electrochemical transformations of both polyaniline and RuCl₃. The redox waves of PANI are similar to those observed for very thin PANI films. It attests that the response is originated from monolayer-like PANI film situated between RuCl₃ layers. The transport of the charge-compensating ions reflects the variation of the oxidation states of both PANI and RuCl₃. The nanocomposites behave as self-doped layers in the potential region when both constituents are charged, i.e. PANI is partially oxidized while RuCl₃ is partially reduced, since the electroneutrality is assured by mutual charge compensation. When PANI is reduced, cations enter the layer to counterbalance the negative charge resulting from the reduction of Ru(III) to Ru(II). It was also found that the intercalation of water molecules is—albeit still substantial—smaller than that of pure RuCl₃ microcrystals, which is related to the presence of PANI between the RuCl₃ layers. Dedicated to Prof. Mikhail A. Vorotyntsev on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of netilmicin in the presence of formaldehyde

A linear sweep adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of netilmicin in the presence of formaldehyde has been proposed for the first time. In the presence of 3.0×10⁻³ g ml⁻¹ formaldehyde, netilmicin exhibits a sensitive cathodic peak at −1.30 V (vs. the saturated calomel electrode, SCE) in a medium of Britton–Robinson buffer (pH 8.7) with a scan rate of 100 mV s⁻¹ after a preconcentration period of 120 s at −1.10 V (vs. SCE). The peak current showed a linear dependence on the netilmicin concentration over the range 4.2×10⁻⁹–1.0×10⁻⁷ g ml⁻¹. The achieved limits of detection and quantitation were 1.0×10⁻¹⁰ and 3.3×10⁻¹⁰ g ml⁻¹ netilmicin, respectively. It was deduced from the experiments that the amine–aldehyde condensation product formed between netilmicin and formaldehyde is mainly responsible for the appearance of the peak. The electrochemical behavior of netilmicin in the presence of formaldehyde has been studied. The method was applied to the direct determination of netilmicin in injectable formulations and spiked human urine and serum samples.      

Heteropoly Complexes Na0.5Cs2 ? x[H0.5 ? xM

Crystals of novel heterepoly complexes (HPC) Na_0.5Cs_{2 − x} [H_{0.5 − x} M _x ^II X^III(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈] · 7−8H₂O (M^II = Fe, Mn; X^III = Cr, Al) are synthesized. Crystal structures of the complexes Na_0.5Cs_{2 − x} [H_{0.5 − x} Fe_xCr(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈] · 7H₂O (I) (x = 0.19) and Na_0.5Cs_{2 − x} [H_{0.5 − x} Mn_xAl(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈] · 8H₂O (II) (x = 0.22) are determined (space group Pbcn, Z = 8, a = 23.023(4) Å, b = 22.064(4) Å, c = 11.606(3) Å, V = 5895.66 ų for I and a = 22.972(9) Å, b = 22.002(8) Å, c = 11.543(5) Å, V = 5834.18 ų for II, respectively). The [X^III(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈]³⁻ ligands were found to be coordinated in monodentate fashion to M atoms due to the participation of a terminal O atom of the cis-MoO₂ group in coordination with the Fe and Mn atoms, which was confirmed by IR data. __________ Translated from Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 9, 2005, pp. 663–676. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by Gavrilova, Molchanov.     

The effect of concentration in electrochemical oxidation of thiocyanate on platinum electrode

Electrochemical oxidation of thiocyanate (SCN⁻) on platinum electrode in the sulfuric acid medium was studied using cyclic voltammetry, in situ UV-visible absorption measurement, rotating ring-disc electrode voltammetry, and electrical impedance spectroscopy. Two oxidation processes are involved in the electrochemical oxidation of SCN⁻ in sulfuric acid medium. The adsorbed SCN⁻ undergoes oxidation at potential values higher than 0.900 V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Trithiocyanate, , is formed as a relatively stable product during the first oxidation process. The potential range of formation increases with increase in concentration of SCN⁻, and it is exclusively produced in the potential range of 0.550 to 1.40 V versus SCE with 1.0 M NH₄SCN solution. The second oxidation process does not produce any stable product, and the products of second oxidation passivate the electrode surface.     

Electrochemical influence of the nature and composition of halides on Al-12Si

The aluminium alloy Al-12Si has been polarized by potentiodynamic method at 25 °C under magnetic stirring and in an aerated solution. Its electrochemical behaviour was tested first by varying the concentration of NaI or NaCl (10⁻⁴, 10⁻³, 10⁻²) added respectively to NaCl or NaI (10⁻³ M), and the pH of NaCl 10⁻³ M (pH = 2.3, 7.3, 10) when adding HCl or NaOH (i.e. the composition of the solution), then by incorporating different ions familiar to an industrial atmosphere (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, , , ) at 10⁻⁶ M to NaCl 10⁻³ M (i.e. the electrolyte nature). The use of the electrokinetic curves obtained allowed the access to the passivation (i _pass , E _rup and E _rep ) and to the electrokinetic parameters (i _corr , R _p and P). They prove the behaviour dependence of the above alloy on the composition and nature of the electrolyte.     

Control over the self-assembly of polymers and layered molybdenum oxide: from the micrometer scale to the molecular scale

We report adjustment on the self-assembly between polymer of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and inorganic molybdenum oxide layers from the micrometer scale to the nanometer scale. Our method is to break the strong interactions between the organic polymers by introducing suitable bridging agents and adjust the reaction speeds of the two competitive reactions in the reaction system. We use I₂ to complex with PVA and break the strong hydrogen interactions between the PVA chains, resulting in a PVA-I₂/(Mo_xO_y)_∞ⁿ⁻ complex, in which the organic and inorganic species self-assemble homogenously on the molecular scale. We also adjust the thickness of the inorganic (Mo_xO_y)_∞ⁿ⁻ layers in the hybrid of PVP/(Mo_xO_y)_∞ⁿ⁻ by controlling the reaction speeds of the two competitive reactions: hydrolysis of Mo₇O₂₄ ⁶⁻ into (Mo_xO_y)_∞ⁿ⁻ and packing into thick inorganic layers on the one hand, and hybridization of (Mo_xO_y)_∞ⁿ⁻ and PVP into layered hybrid on the other hand. Experimental results proved that when the hydrolysis is overwhelming, the inorganic molybdenum oxide chains pack into heavy layers and self-assemble with PVP polymers on the micrometer scale, and when the hybrid reaction dominates, the organic polymer and molybdenum oxide hybridize on the molecular scale. These findings open new routes to disperse organic polymer and inorganic species homogenously and fabricate novel organic/inorganic hybrid nanomaterials in situ.     

Possibility of Mo<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> formation at high temperatures in the range of pressures from 1 to 1 × 10<Superscript>−5</Superscript> bar

Gibbs free energy minimization was used to consider the formation of complex molybdenum oxide (Mo₂O₆) at 2400 K in the range of pressures from 1 to 1 to 1 × 10⁻⁵ bar for the basic component ratio Mo: O₂ = 1: 1. Several ways are shown to lead to Mo₂O₆ formation: when P = 1 bar, a synthesis reaction involving simple molybdenum oxides (MoO, MoO₂, MoO₃) is the main way; when P = 1 × 10⁻³ bar or lower, reactions of (MoO₃) _n (n = 3−5) complex oxides with metallic molybdenum and molybdenum monoxide (MoO) are.     

NASICON phases of variable composition K1? x A1? x R1+ x (MoO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2–0.6), where A = Ni, Mg, Co, or Mn and R = Yb, Lu, or Sc

Phases of variable composition K_1−x A_1−x R_1+x (MoO₄)₃) (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2–0.6), where A = Ni, Mg, Co, or Mn and R = Yb, Lu, or Sc, which crystallize in a NASICON-type structure (space group R c) were synthesized by solid-phase reactions. Their crystal parameters were calculated, and IR and Raman spectra described. Original Russian Text ? N.M. Kozhevnikova, T.N. Khamaganova, 2008, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 864–865.     

Enhancement of electron transfer kinetics on a polyaniline-modified electrode in the presence of anionic dopants

The electrocatalytic redox behavior of 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) has been studied on a polyaniline-modified platinum electrode (PANI) using cyclic voltammetry and rotating disc electrode (RDE) as diagnostic techniques. The modified electrode was prepared by electropolymerization of aniline in different acidic solutions. The PANI showed electrocatalytic activity toward the redox behavior of NQ. This process includes the participation of PANI to the redox reaction of NQ via the surface catalysis phenomena. The cyclic voltammograms of NQ in HCl on the PANI-Cl-modified electrode showed an overlapped oxidation peak, the peak potential of which did not change with increasing scan rate. The influence of other anions including and as dopant was also studied and compared with Cl⁻. The use of HClO₄ as a supporting electrolyte resulted in well-separated redox peaks. The RDE voltammogram was used to obtain a quantitative assessment of reaction rate at the PANI-modified electrode. It was found that PANI acts as an electrocatalyst for NQ reduction with decreasing ΔE _p and increasing k°.     

Determination of major, minor and trace elements in cobalt-substituted lithium nickelate ceramic powders by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

An analytical method was developed for the determination of three major (Li, Ni and Co) and fourteen minor or trace elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Si, Sr, Ti and V) in LiNi_1−x Co _x O₂ (x = 0.2–0.8) ceramic powders by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Sample dissolution was achieved by 25% nitric acid digestion in a microwave oven. For each element, an analytical line free from spectral interferences was selected. A detailed study of matrix effects over a wide interval of total excitation energy (TEE) lines (1.62–16.50 eV) was performed at near-robust plasma conditions. A remarkable enhancement in atomic lines with TEE <4 eV was noticed, whereas a significant reduction in atomic and ionic lines with TEE >4 eV was observed. The extrapolation to infinite dilution method was successfully used to overcome these nonspectroscopic interferences. Detection limits (3σ) varied from 0.21 mg kg⁻¹ for Sr to 49.7 mg kg⁻¹ for Na. The precision of determination (obtained as the relative standard deviation) was lower than 1% for the major elements Li, Ni and Co and between 0.69 and 10% for minor and trace elements. The accuracy of the method ranged from 91 to 101% for major elements, and from 90 to 110%, or close to this range, for most of the impurities in both of the samples studied.      

Polymerization of aniline in the interlayer space of molybdenum trioxide and its electrochemical properties

Molybdenum trioxide/polyaniline (MoO₃/PANI) composite was prepared first by ion-exchange reaction between aniline (ANI) and dodecylamine (DDA) which was intercalated precursor, and then was formed under the polymerization of ANI within the interlayer space of MoO₃ at 120 °C for 3 d in air. According to powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical testing, MoO₃/PANI composite has layered structure, and its interlayer spacing is 1.127 nm. Moreover, it has high thermal stability with the compound and completes its weight loss at 751.9 °C. Electrochemical investigation shows that MoO₃ is the major active substance in the MoO₃/PANI electrode, and MoO₃/PANI electrode demonstrates better conductivity and electrochemical activity than pure MoO₃ electrode, attributed to the promotion of Li⁺ and/or electron transport. In addition, the alternating current impedance proves that if the resistance of MoO₃/PANI electrode reduces apparently, the electrochemical activity will increase correspondingly, the same as the relationship between the ohmic resistance and the electrical conductivity.