Application of Polyaniline Film as a Sensor for Stimulant Nerve Agents

Abstract

Methyl phosphonic dichloride (MPDC) and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) are two important organophosphorus compounds used in the preparation of many toxic organophosphorus compounds such as nerve agents. This paper deals with the application of polyaniline coated on a glass slide surface as a sensor for the detection of some of the stimulant nerve agents such as MPDC and DMMP. The sensing behavior of polyaniline films toward MPDC and DMMP vapors via electrical conductivity changes of the polymer film using the standard four-point probe technique was investigated. The effects of the chemical concentration and the polymer thickness on the conductivity and conductivity stability of the polymer were also studied. The vapors of nerve agent stimulants affect the PANi film by the p-doping mechanism and lead to an increase in the conductivity of the polymer. The response times of the PANi film to MPDC and DMMP vapors are very fast, and the conductivity of the polymer increases with the increase in the concentration of the samples.     

Fabrication of Patterned Conducting Polymers on Insulating Polymeric Substrates by Electric‐Field‐Assisted Assembly and Pattern Transfer

Summary: The use of electrostatically addressable templates for the directed assembly of conducting polymers and pattern transfer to another polymer substrate is demonstrated. Doped conducting polyaniline was selectively assembled on the patterned template assisted by a DC electric field. Adding an insulated silicon dioxide layer onto the surface of the silicon wafer is critical to the formation of patterned PANi rather than a PANi film. After deposition, it was demonstrated that by compression molding or solution casting methods, patterned PANi can be completely transferred to a secondary polymer substrate, such as an NBR sheet or a polyurethane film. The conductivity of PANi lines on the PU film was found to be as high as 0.87 S · cm⁻¹. The simple one‐step assembly process for patterning conductive polymers and transfer provides a promising nanomanufacturing approach for cost‐effective and high performance flexible nanoelectronics and biosensors.

Optical image of PANi‐assembled templates with patterned gold lines connected to negative electrodes at 10 V for 1 min.     

Investigation on the effects of beta and gamma irradiation on conducting polymers for sensor applications

Two conductive polymers were evaluated to be the active materials in a sensor device for the detection of beta radiation. This was accomplished by characterizing the changes in conductivity of electrically conducting polymer films caused by exposure to tritium gas for varying lengths of time. The behavior of these materials when exposed to gamma radiation was also studied to gain further insight into the mechanism of conductivity degradation by ionizing radiation. Two types of conductive polymer, polyaniline (PANi) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), were chosen as candidate materials for their widespread commercial use. The change of surface resistance (conductivity) of PANi and PEDOT films when exposed to gamma radiation in both air and deuterium environments was evaluated as well as tritium exposures in 10⁴ and 10⁵ Pa gas. Raman and absorbance spectra of gamma irradiated samples were obtained to determine the mechanism of conductivity degradation in both polymers. Post-irradiation gas analysis of the samples contained in deuterium revealed very little (or no) hydrogen in the containment vessel, indicating that hydrogen–deuterium isotopic exchange was not responsible for the decrease in surface conductivity due to gamma exposure. The effects of irradiation-induced oxidation were also studied for both conductive polymers during gamma irradiation. It was concluded that chain scission via free radical formation and chain cross-linking are most likely the two dominant mechanisms for conductivity change and not de-protonation of the polymer.     

Polyaniline–graphene oxide nanocomposites: Influence of nonconducting graphene oxide on the conductivity and oxidation‐reduction mechanism of polyaniline

The present endeavor focuses on the unusual interactions between polyaniline and graphene oxide (PANi–GO) which radically affects the properties of nanocomposites as it is an emerging material for many potential applications. A series of nanocomposites have been synthesized by varying the weight percentage of highly nonconducting GO with respect to aniline which exhibit superior properties in terms of shelf life, processability and conductivity due to the synergistic effect of GO and PANi. A comparison of the resistances of samples reveal that though as‐synthesized GO is insulating (80 MΩ), when added to PANi (283 kΩ) in small amounts yields conducting composites (50–280 Ω). Up to 5 weight % concentration, GO renders conductivity to the composite probably by increasing the doping level of PANi. Nonetheless, no further increase in conductivity observed on addition of more than 5 wt% GO in the composite has dictated us to unravel the structure property relationship between PANi and GO, where GO facilitates the formation of partially reduced phase of PANi, thereby restricting the electronic transport. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3778–3786     

Validation of an SPME method,using PDMS,PA, PDMS-DVB,and CW-DVB SPME fiber coatings,for analysis of organophosphorus insecticides in natural waters

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been optimized and applied to the determination of the organophosphorus insecticides diazinon, dichlofenthion, parathion methyl, malathion, fenitrothion, fenthion, parathion ethyl, bromophos methyl, bromophos ethyl, and ethion in natural waters. Four types of SPME fiber coated with different stationary phases (PDMS, PA, PDMS-DVB, and CW-DVB) were used to examine their extraction efficiencies for the compounds tested. Conditions that might affect the SPME procedure, such as extraction time and salt content, were investigated to determine the analytical performance of these fiber coatings for organophosphorus insecticides. The optimized procedure was applied to natural waters - tap, sea, river, and lake water - spiked in the concentration range 0.5 to 50 micro g L(-1) to obtain the analytical characteristics. Recoveries were relatively high - >80% for all types of aqueous sample matrix - and the calibration plots were reproducible and linear (R(2)>0.982) for all analytes with all the fibers tested. The limits of detection ranged from 2 to 90 ng L(-1), depending on the detector and the compound investigated, with relative standard deviations in the range 3-15% at all the concentration levels tested. The SPME partition coefficients (K(f)) of the organophosphorus insecticides were calculated experimentally for all the polymer coatings. The effect of organic matter such as humic acids on extraction efficiency was also studied. The analytical performance of the SPME procedure using all the fibers in the tested natural waters proved effective for the compounds.     

Thin-layer chromatographic detection of monocrotophos in biological materials

An organophosphorus insecticide monocrotophos is increasingly being used in agriculture to control insects on a wide range of crops. Its ready access has resulted in misuse in many instances of homicidal and suicidal poisoning cases. This paper describes a chromogenic spray reagent for the detection of monocrotophos in biological materials by thin-layer chromatography. Monocrotophos on alkaline hydrolysis yields N-methylacetoacetamide which in turn reacts with diazotized sulphanilamide or sulphanilic acid to give a red colour. Other organophosphorus insecticides do not give a coloured spot. Moreover, organochlorine and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides and constituents of viscera (amino acids, peptides, proteins etc.) which are generally co-extracted with the insecticides, do not interfere. However, phenolic compounds and hydrolysed product of carbamate insecticides, may interfere and are differentiated from monocrotophos by R_F values. The limit of detection is ca 1 μg.     

Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembled Multilayer Films Composed of Graphene/Polyaniline Bilayers: High-Energy Electrode Materials for Supercapacitors

Multilayer assemblies of uniform ultrathin film electrodes with good electrical conductivity and very large surface areas were prepared for use as electrochemical capacitors. A layer-by-layer self-assembly approach was employed in an effort to improve the processability of highly conducting polyaniline (PANi) and chemically modified graphene. The electrochemical properties of the multilayer film (MF-) electrodes, including the sheet resistance, volumetric capacitance, and charge/discharge ratio, were determined by the morphological modification and the method used to reduce the graphene oxide (GO) to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in the multilayer films. The PANi and GO concentrations could be modulated to control the morphology of the GO monolayer film in the multilayer assemblies. Optical ellipsometry was used to determine the thickness of the GO film in a single layer (1.32 nm), which agreed well with the literature value (～1.3 nm). Hydroiodic acid (HI), hydrazine, or pyrolysis were tested for the reduction of GO to RGO. HI was found to be the most efficient technique for reducing the GO to RGO in the multilayer assemblies while minimizing damage to the virgin state of the acid-doped PANi. Ultimately, the MF-electrode, which could be optimized by fine-tuning the nanostructure and selecting a suitable reduction method, exhibited an excellent volumetric capacitance, good cycling stability, and a rapid charge/discharge rate, which are required for supercapacitors. A MF-electrode composed of 15 PANi/RGO bilayers yielded a volumetric capacitance of 584 F/cm(3) at a current density of 3.0 A/cm(3). Although this value decreased exponentially as the current density increased, approaching a value of 170 F/cm(3) at 100 A/cm(3), this volumetric capacitance is one of the best yet reported for the other carbon-based materials. The intriguing features of the MF-electrodes composed of PANi/RGO multilayer films offer a new microdimensional design for high energy storage devices for use in small portable electronic devices.     

基于磁性共轭微孔聚合物的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定果蔬中7种有机磷杀虫剂

建立了基于磁性共轭微孔聚合物的磁固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UPLC-MS/MS）测定果蔬中7种有机磷杀虫剂的方法。将亚苯基亚乙炔基修饰的Fe₃O₄与1,3,5-三溴苯、1,3,5-三乙炔苯反应,制备磁性共轭微孔聚合物,材料能有效吸附共轭结构的有机磷杀虫剂,并在外磁场中实现便捷磁分离。方法的检出限（LOD）为0.12~5.0 ng/kg,加标回收率为80.8%~125%,相对标准偏差（RSD）小于6%（n=5）。方法应用于分析市场上果蔬样品中7种有机磷杀虫剂,检出含量为1.1~500.0 ng/kg。该方法灵敏度高,准确可靠,对果蔬中有机磷杀虫剂的检测具有良好的应用潜力。     

气相色谱-质谱联用分析5种有机磷农药时氢气代替氦气作为载气的可行性考察

迄今为止,氦气几乎是气相色谱-质谱联用仪运行中唯一可选的载气.本文使用气相色谱-质谱联用仪考察了氢气和氦气分别作为载气时,对5种有机磷农药混合标准溶液的检测,以确定氢气代替氦气作为气相色谱-质谱联用仪载气用于有机磷农药分析的可行性.用工作站自带解卷积软件(自动质谱解卷积鉴定系统,AMDIS32),结合自建"有机农药质谱库"对结果进行了解析,而后用SPSS统计软件对数据进行了聚类分析.结果发现,以氢气为载气时虽然出峰稍快,但色谱峰分离度较低,解良度较低,且待测物信号不稳定,测定准确度较低,有些化合物甚至检测不到.因此以氢气为载气分析有机磷农药时应对测定准确度、信号稳定性、安全性等诸多因素进行慎重考虑.     

Characterization of nanostructure and cell compatibility of polyaniline films with different dopant acids

Polyaniline (PANi) films were prepared by direct polymerizing deposition with four different kinds of acids as dopants or were prepared by a casting method on the surface of a polytetrafluoroethylene substrate. The properties of PANi films were characterized using atomic force microscopy, electrical conductivity measurements, and water contact angle measurements. Unlike the casting PANi film, experimental results indicated that the synthesized PANi films had a similar nanostructure as that of average nanoparticles (approximate diameter of 30-50 nm). To investigate the potential usefulness of PANi films in biomedical applications, we also studied their biocompatibility through the adhesion and proliferation properties of PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells. All the films were found to be biocompatible and allowed cell attachment and proliferation. However, the synthesized films have a much higher ability for cell adhesion than the casting film. After 4 days of culture on different PANi films, the cells formed more confluent monolayers on the synthesized PANi films than on the casting films. These results demonstrate that the PANi films could be used to culture neurotic cells and that their surface architecture on the nanoscale may affect cell function such as attachment and proliferation.     

A wireless magnetoelastic biosensor for the direct detection of organophosphorus pesticides

An organophosphorus (OP) pesticide sensor was fabricated by applying a pH-sensitive polymer coating and organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) enzyme onto the surface of a magnetoelastic sensor, the magnetic analogue of the better-known surface acoustic wave sensor. Organophosphorus hydrolase catalyses the hydrolysis of a wide range of organophosphorus compounds, which changes the pH in the hydrogel. This article describes the application of the magnetoelastic sensor for the detection of OP pesticides by measuring the changes in viscoelasticity caused by the swelling/shrinking of the pH-responsive polymer when exposed to the pesticides. The sensor was successfully used to detect paraoxon and parathion down to a concentration of 1 x 10(-7) and 8.5 x 10(-7) M respectively.     

Application of multivariate self-modeling curve resolution to the quantitation of trace levels of organophosphorus pesticides in natural waters from interlaboratory studies

Multivariate self-modeling curve resolution is applied to the quantitation of coeluted organophosphorus pesticides: fenitrothion, azinphos-ethyl, diazinon, fenthion and parathion-ethyl. Analysis of these pesticides at levels of 0.1 to 1 μg/l in the presence of natural interferences is achieved using automated on-line liquid-solid extraction (Prospekt) coupled to liquid chromatography and diode array detection followed by a recently developed multivariate self-modeling curve resolution method. The proposed approach uses only 100 ml of natural water sample and has improved resolution of the coeluted organophosphorus insecticides and their quantitation at trace level. The results have been compared with those obtained by different laboratories participating in the Aquacheck interlaboratory exercise (WRC, Medmenham, UK) where more conventional analytical techniques are being used.     

The effect of engineered disulfide bonds on the stability of Drosophila melanogaster acetylcholinesterase

Background  

Acetylcholinesterase is irreversibly inhibited by organophosphate and carbamate insecticides allowing its use in biosensors for detection of these insecticides. Drosophila acetylcholinesterase is the most sensitive enzyme known and has been improved by in vitro mutagenesis. However, its stability has to be improved for extensive utilization.     

Conductivity of polydiacetylene with π-conjugation between polymer backbone and substituents

Poly-1,4-bis(3-acetamidephenyl)-1,3-butadiyne, i.e., a topochemically obtained polydiacetylene for which one can expect π-conjugation between polymer backbone and substituents, has been examined as a candidate of conducting polymers. Upon iodine doping, the polymer film attained the conductivity of 4.8 × 10^?2 S/cm, i.e., about three orders of magnitude greater than those of other polydiacetylene films which have no such π-conjugation.     

A gas chromatographic determination of residues of eleven insecticides and two metabolites on olive tree leaves

A gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed and statistically validated for the simultaneous determination of residues of pyrethroid, endosulfan, and organophosphorus insecticides and some of their metabolites on olive tree leaves. Pesticide residues were extracted by static extraction with acetone-dichloromethane. After evaporation of the extract to dryness and redissolution in acetone, the organophosphorus insecticides were determined by GC with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Another portion of the extract, after solvent change to acetonitrile, was cleaned up on an Alumina-N cartridge and analyzed for insecticides sensitive to electron-capture detection (ECD), i.e., pyrethroids and endosulfan and its metabolite. Recoveries of the organophosphorus insecticides ranged from 80.7 to 93.3% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of < or = 7.2%; recoveries of the ECD-sensitive insecticides ranged from 71.6 to 89.5% with RSDs of < or = 11.6%. The method was used to analyze 26 samples of olive tree leaves from organic olive groves all over Greece, and the results confirmed the viability of the method for routine analysis. Residues of fenthion and fenthion sulfoxide were found in one and 3 samples, respectively, and their identities were confirmed by GC with mass spectrometry.     

Fabrication and evaluation of bacterial cellulose-polyaniline composites by interfacial polymerization

The fabrication and evaluation of nanocomposites based on microbial cellulose and polyaniline (PANi) are described. Microbial cellulose, so called, bacterial cellulose (BC) was introduced to interfacial polymerization of aniline. Two different phases based on water and chloroform made it easy for nanosized PANi particles to be synthesized on BC. Without any help of a surfactant or templates, BC played a critical role of supporting the growth of PANi. As a function of aniline concentration, the corresponding PANi content and volume resistivity were checked. From morphological images observed by FE-SEM, PANi nanoparticles were densely arrayed along every fiber of BC. The conjugated backbone of PANi was thought to contribute to the improvements of thermal stability of PANi/BC composites. The stiffness and brittleness of PANi were compensated by more ductile BC, suggesting BC can be a promising substrate for it. By the simple and facile interfacial polymerization, the electrical conductivity of PANi/BC composites reached up to 3.8?×?10^?1?S/cm when 0.32?M of aniline was used. This PANi/BC nanocomposite can be useful in applications requiring biocompatibility and electrical conductivity such as biological and chemical sensors.     

Low-temperature clean-up method for the determination of organophosphorus insecticides in olive oil

A simple, extremely low-cost method using low-temperature lipid precipitation has been developed for the rapid analysis of virgin olive oil for organophosphorus insecticides and triazine herbicides commonly used in olive groves. The method gives good clean-up for GC analysis with nitrogen-phosphorus detection and recoveries between 77 and 104%, with RSD values of 7-16%. Matrix enhancement was observed for some pesticides and metabolites.     

Nachweis von Organophosphorinsecticiden durch Gas-Chromatographie-Massenspektrometrie

Zusammenfassung Die Elektronenstoß-Massenspektren (EI-MS) von 49 Organophosphorinsecticiden wurden in Gas-Chromatographie-Massenspektrometrie-Kopplung unter Bedingungen gemessen, die denen in der Rückstandsanalyse entsprechen. Die EI-MS der Vertreter der 4 Substanzklassen Dithiophophorsäureester, Thiono- und Thiolphosphorsäureester und Phosphorsäureester wurden in Gruppen nach Dimethyl- und Diäthylester unterteilt. Für diese 8 Substanzgruppen wurden die 5 Ionenm/e 93, 97, 109,121 und 125 als gruppentypisch erkannt. Mit diesen Fragmenten ist eine Zuordnung der Verbindungen zu den einzelnen Gruppen möglich.Zusätzlich zu den gruppentypischen Ionen wurden für alle 49 Pesticide aus den EI-MS substanztypische Ionen ausgewählt, die eine Identifizierung der einzelnen Organophosphorinsecticide in der Rückstandsanalyse ermöglichen. Die Auswahl der substanztypischen Ionen wird diskutiert unter Betonung der Frage, ob in den EI-MS anderer Phoshorpesticide die gleichen Ionen gefunden werden.Für die eindeutige Identifizierung wird die GC-MS-Kopplung mit Einfach- und Mehrfachmassenregistrierung der ausgewählten Ionen unter Berücksichtigung von Retentionszeit und des Phosphornachweises mit dem Alkaliflammenionisationsdetektor vorgeschlagen.

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Detection of organophosphorus insecticides by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Summary The Electron impact mass spectra (EI-MS) of 49 organophosphorus insecticides were measured in gc-ms mode under conditions generally used in residue analysis. The EI-MS of compounds of the 4 substance classes phosphorodithioates, phosphorothionates, phosphorothiolates, and phosphates were further divided into the groups of dimethyl esters and diethyl esters. For these 8 substance groups the 5 ions atm/e 93, 97, 109, 121, and 125 were found to be indicative for the corresponding structure. With these 5 fragments individual compounds can be classified into the different structure groups.In addition, to these group typical ions for each of the 49 pesticides a series of ions was selected which are characteristic for each individual pesticide allowing an unequivocal identification of these compounds in residue analysis. The choice of the ions characteristic for individual pesticides is discussed accentuating the question whether the same ions may be found in the EI-MS of other organophosphorus pesticides.As an identification procedure gc-ms with single ion detection and multiple ion detection in combination with the retention time and the positive response of the alkaliflame detector is proposed.

Photokopien der in Tabelle 1 in der Spalte Ref. mit einem + versehenen Massenspektren können vom Autor angefordert werden.     

EMI shielding and microwave absorption behavior of Au‐MWCNT/polyaniline nanocomposites

Electrically conducting Au‐multiwalled carbon nanotube/polyaniline (Au‐MWCNT/PANi) nanocomposites were synthesized by two different ways: (1) by direct mixing of MWCNT/PANi and Au nanoparticles (Au‐MWCNT/PANi‐1) and (2) by in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of both MWCNTs and Au nanoparticles (Au‐MWCNT/PANi‐2). The higher electrical conductivity of Au‐MWCNT/PANi‐2 compared with the other samples (PANi, MWCNT/PANi, Au‐MWCNT/PANi‐1) is supported by the red shifts of the UV‐vis bands (polaron/bipolaron), the high value of the –NH+= stretch peak (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies), the high % crystallinity (X‐ray diffraction analysis) and more uniform dispersion of the Au NPs in the material. The performance of the samples in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and microwave absorption was studied in the X‐band (8–12 GHz). For all the samples, absorption was the dominant factor contributing toward the EMI shielding. Au‐MWCNT/PANi‐2 showed the best performance with a total shielding effectiveness of ?16 dB [averaged over the X‐band (GHz)] and a minimum reflection loss of ?56.5 dB. The higher dielectric properties resulting from the heterogeneities because of the presence of nanofillers and the high electrical conductivity lead to the increased EMI shielding and microwave absorption. The results show the significance of both Au nanoparticles and method of synthesis on the EMI shielding performance of MWCNT/PANi composites. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Grafting of polyaniline onto the surface of 4‐aminobenzoyl‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube and its electrochemical properties

Polyaniline (PANi)‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite is prepared by a two‐step reaction sequence. MWNT is first functionalized with 4‐aminobenzoic acid in polyphosphoric acid/phosphorous pentoxide as a “direct” Friedel‐Crafts acylation reaction medium. The resultant 4‐aminobenzoyl‐functionalized MWNT is then treated with aniline using ammonium persulfate/aqueous hydrochloric acid to promote a chemical oxidative polymerization, leading to PANi‐grafted MWNT composite. The resultant composite is characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrical conductivity measurement. The thermooxidative stability and electrical conductivity of PANi‐grafted MWNT composite are improved compared to those of PANi. Specifically, the electrical conductivity of PANi‐grafted MWNT is improved 10–900 times depending upon the level of doping. The capacitance of the composite is also greatly enhanced. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3103–3112, 2010