Polymerized ionic liquid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polyetherimide composites

Thin polyetherimide (PEI) films containing 0.1–3 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), have been prepared from three types of MWCNTs, namely pristine, oxidized and polymerized ionic liquid (PIL) functionalized CNTs. Oxidized and PIL functionalized CNTs (CNT–PIL) showed better dispersion in the matrix compared to pristine CNTs. For CNT–PIL, alignment of CNTs has been observed in the matrix. Regardless of the type of CNTs, their incorporation led to an increased thermal stability of the polymer matrix. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that storage modulus increased by up to 25% (3 wt.% CNT–PIL) and an increase in the height of the damping peaks (tan δ). The addition of CNTs did not have any significant influence on the tensile properties and T_g of the polymer, and the electrical conductivity did not decrease in the case of modified CNTs.     

Voltammetric myoglobin sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite film consisting of carbon nanotubes and a molecularly imprinted polymerized ionic liquid

The ionic liquid 1-{3-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]propyl}-3-vinylimidazole bromide was synthesized and used to fabricate a molecularly imprinted film for electrochemical sensing of myoglobin (Myo). This film was deposited on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes by using the ionic liquid as the functional monomer, Myo as the template, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as the crosslinker, and a redox system containing ammonium persulfate and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine as the initiator. The sensing performance of the modified electrode was investigated by using the hexacyanoferrate system as an electrochemical redox probe. The results demonstrated that the sensor possesses good selectivity and high sensitivity. The oxidation peak current at the potential of ~0.3 V (vs. SCE) was found linearly related to the myoglobin concentration in the range from 60.0 nM to 6.0 μM, with a 9.7 nM detection limit at an S/N ratio of 3. The sensor was applied to the determination of Myo in spiked serum samples where it showed average recoveries (for n = 5) of 96.5 %.

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Graphical abstract By using a polymerizable ionic liquid as the functional monomer, a myoglobin imprinted polymer was fabricated on a multi-walled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode. The sensing performances of the molecularly imprinted sensor towards myoglobin demonstrated good selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy.

     

Supported ionic liquid phase catalysis on functionalized carbon nanotubes

Highly active rhodium catalysts have been prepared by immobilization of an ionic liquid film on carbon nanotubes functionalized with imidazolium-based ionic moieties.     

Sensing epinephrine with an ITO electrode modified with an imprinted chitosan film containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a polymerized ionic liquid

We report on a sensor for epinephrine (EP) that is based on an ITO electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes pre-coated with a polymerized ionic liquid (PIL-MWNTs). A chitosan film was then electrodeposited on the ITO electrode in the presence of EP (the template) and the PIL-MWNTs. This film acts as an excellent recognition matrix due to its excellent film-forming ability and the many functional groups that favor hydrogen bond formation with the target (EP). The PIL-MWNTs, in turn, can improve the sensing performance due to their good electrical conductivity, high dispersity, and large surface area. The imprinted films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemistry of the imprinted electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The response to EP is linear in the 0.2 μM to 0.67 mM concentration range, and the detection limit is as low as 60 nM (at an S/N of 3). The electrode is reusable and offers good reproducibility and stability.

Palladium nanoparticles supported onto ionic carbon nanotubes as robust recyclable catalysts in an ionic liquid

Palladium nanoparticles have been deposited onto imidazolium bromide-functionalized ionic MWCNTs through hydrogen reduction of Na2PdCl4 in water without aid of surfactants under extremely mild conditions, and combined with an ionic liquid to create a new recyclable ionic liquid-based catalytic system allowing up to 50 times recycling.     

Infrared photorefractive composites based on polyvinylcarbazole and carbon nanotubes

Photorefractive materials based on unplasticized polymers that have a high glass-transition temperature and the frozen random orientation of chromophores were prepared by layer casting. Under these conditions, only the third-order susceptibility has a nonzero value, increasing with an increase in the conjugation-chain length and reaching considerable values in the case of nanosized molecules, such as single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). In SWNT-containing polyvinylcarbazole, the photoelectric sensitivity and photorefractive characteristics were measured at 1064 nm. Using electric-field induced second-harmonic generation, the third-order susceptibility was estimated. In a composite containing 0.26 wt % SWNT, the diffraction grating is displaced by 5° relative to the interference pattern, the result that is presumably due to the close mobility of unlike charge carriers. Therefore, the beam-coupling gain coefficient Γ and the net gain Γ-α have low values, which are 53 and 42 cm^?1, respectively, at 115 V/μm.     

Electrochemical sensor for amino acids and albumin based on composites containing carbon nanotubes and copper microparticles

This work reports on the analytical performance of composites obtained by dispersing copper microparticles and multi-wall carbon nanotubes within a mineral oil binder (CNTPE-Cu) for the determination of amino acids and albumin. The strong complexing activity of amino acids towards copper makes possible an important improvement in the sensitivity for the determination of amino acids and albumin. This new electrode permits the highly sensitive amperometric detection of amino acids, even the non-electroactive ones, at very low potentials (0.000 V) and physiological pH (phosphate buffer solution pH 7.40). The response of the electrode is highly dependent on the amount of copper, demonstrating the crucial role of the metal in the analytical performance of the sensor. The best analytical performance is obtained for the electrode containing 6.0% (w/w) copper. The resulting sensor shows a fast response (7 s) and a sensitivity that depends on the nature of the amino acid. The electrode surface demonstrates an excellent resistance to surface fouling, with R.S.D. of 4% for the sensitivities of 10 successive calibration plots. Albumin is determined with CNTPE-Cu using a protocol based on the accumulation of the protein for 10 min at −0.100 V, followed by the square-wave voltammetric analysis. The quantification of albumin concentration in lyophilized control serum gives excellent agreement with the classical spectrophotometric methodology and with the value informed for the supplier.     

Nonenzymatic glucose voltammetric sensor based on gold nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes/ionic liquid nanocomposite

In this paper, a novel nonenzymatic glucose voltammetric sensor based on a kind of nanocomposite of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) embedded in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/ionic liquid (IL) gel was reported. The surface morphology of this nanocomposite was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. It can be found that most of GNPs lie close to the ektexine of MWCNTs and the others have obviously inserted the inner of MWCNTs through the defects or ends of MWCNTs, due to the attraction between GNPs and MWCNTs as well as the repulsion between GNPs and IL. Voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrocatalytic activities of the nanocomposite biosensor toward nonenzymatic glucose oxidation in alkaline media. The GNPs embedded in MWCNTs/IL gel have strong and sensitive voltammetric responses to glucose, owing to a possible synergistic effect among GNPs, MWCNTs and IL. Under the optimal condition, the linear range for the detection of the glucose is 5.0-120 μM with the correlation coefficient of 0.998, based on the oxidation peak observed during cathodic direction of the potential sweep. The kinetics and mechanism of glucose electro-oxidation were intensively investigated in this system. This kind of nanocomposite biosensor is also highly resistant toward poisoning by chloride ions and capable of sensing glucose oxidation in the presence of 20 μM uric acid and 70 μM ascorbic acid. This work provides a simple and easy approach to the detection of glucose in body fluid with high sensitivity and excellent selectivity.     

Hydrogenation of aryl ketones using palladium nanoparticles on single-walled carbon nanotubes in an ionic liquid

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are used as supporting materials for palladium (Pd) nanoparticles generated in situ in ionic liquid (IL); Pd nanocatalysts on SWNTs exhibit superior reactivity for hydrogenation of aryl ketones in IL under mild conditions (1 atm of H₂ (g) and room temperature) and can be reused above 10 times without any loss of catalytic activity.     

Dispersions, novel nanomaterial sensors and nanoconjugates based on carbon nanotubes

Nanomaterials are structures with dimensions characteristically much below 100 nm. The unique physical properties (e.g., conductivity, reactivity) have placed these nanomaterials in the forefront of emerging technologies. Significant enhancement of optical, mechanical, electrical, structural, and magnetic properties are commonly found through the use of novel nanomaterials. One of the most exciting classes of nanomaterials is represented by the carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes, including single-wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, and concentric tubes have been shown to possess superior electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties to be attractive for a wide range of potential applications They sometimes bunch to form “ropes” and show great potential for use as highly sensitive electronic (bio)sensors due to the very small diameter, directly comparable to the size of single analyte molecules and that every single carbon atom is in direct contact with the environment, allowing optimal interaction with nearby molecules. Composite materials based on integration of carbon nanotubes and some other materials to possess properties of the individual components with a synergistic effect have gained growing interest. Materials for such purposes include conducting polymers, redox mediators and metal nanoparticles. These tubes provide the necessary building blocks for electronic circuits and afford new opportunities for chip miniaturization, which can dramatically improve the scaling prospects for the semiconductor technologies and the fabrication of devices, including field-effect transistors and sensors. Carbon nanotubes are one of the ideal materials for the preparation of nanoelectronic devices and nanosensors due to the unique electrical properties, outstanding electrocatalytic properties, high chemical stability and larger specific surface area of nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are attractive material for supercapacitors due to their unique one-dimensional mesoporous structure, high specific surface area, low resistivity and good chemical stability. Nanoscaled composite materials based on carbon nanotubes have been broadly used due to their high chemical inertness, non-swelling effect, high purity and rigidity. The integration of carbon nanotubes with organics, biomaterials and metal nanoparticles has led to the development of new hybrid materials and sensors. Hybrid nanoscale materials are well established in various processes such as organic and inorganic compounds, nucleic acid detachment, protein separation, and immobilization of enzymes. Those nanostructures can be used as the building blocks for electronics and nanodevices because uniform organic and metal coatings with the small and monodisperse domain sizes are crucial to optimize nanoparticle conductivity and to detect changes in conductivity and absorption induced by analyte adsorption on these surfaces. The highly ordered assembly of zero-dimensional and one-dimensional nanoparticles is not only necessary for making functional devices, but also presents an opportunity to develop novel collective properties.     

Near-IR photorefractive composites based on oxidized single-wall carbon nanotubes

The photoelectric, nonlinear optical, and photorefractive characteristics of polymer composites made from unplasticized polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) and single-wall carbon nanotubes containing surface oxygen groups (at C:O ratio of 77.8:22.2%) were analyzed. The dependences of the quantum efficiency of charge-carrier generation on the applied electric field E measured at 1064 and 1550 nm coincide and are approximated by the Onsager equation expanded to the E ⁴ term, at π₀ = 0.012 and r ₀ = 9.8 Å. The third-order optical nonlinearity determined by the EFISH technique at a nanotube content of 0.26 wt % is 2 × 10⁵ pm²/V² or 2.3 × 10^?29 C⁴ m/J³ in SI units. The pattern of photorefractive kinetic curves indicates that the mean free path of holes is longer than the mean range of electrons. The photorefractive net gain coefficient of the signal beam measured at 1064 nm in a field of E = 170 V/μm is Γ ? α = 55 cm^?1 (α = 10 cm^?1 is the optical absorption coefficient at 1064 nm). At 1550 nm, the net gain coefficient measured in a field of E = 265 V/μm is Γ ? α = 55.7 cm^?1 (α = 3.3 cm^?1 at 1550 nm). In the presence of oxygen groups, there is no transfer of electrons photogenerated in carbon nanotubes to the external acceptor C⁶⁰. This effect can be associated with an increase in the ionization potential of nanotubes by almost 0.8 eV as a result of oxidation.     

Transformation of ionic liquid into carbon nanotubes in confined nanospace

We have developed a two-step filling process for the nano-reaction of ionic liquid in a tip-closed SWNT, where fullerenes are inserted at the end of the host SWNT as a plug to prevent the leakage of the confined ionic liquid during heat treatment.     

Effect of ionic liquid on dielectric, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polychloroprene rubber composites

This paper focuses on the influence of ionic liquid on carbon nanotube based elastomeric composites. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are modified using an ionic liquid at room temperature, 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulphonyl) imide (BMI) and modified MWCNTs exhibit physical (cation–π/π–π) interaction with BMI. The polychloroprene rubber (CR) composites are prepared using unmodified and BMI modified MWCNTs. The presence of BMI not only increases the alternating current (AC) electrical conductivity and polarisability of the composites but also improves the state of dispersion of the tubes as observed from dielectric spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy respectively. In addition to the hydrodynamic reinforcement, the formation of improved filler–filler networks is reflected in the dynamic storage modulus (E′) for modified MWCNTs/CR composites in amplitude sweep measurement upon increasing the proportion of BMI. Hardness and mechanical properties are also studied for the composites as a function of BMI.     

Determination of microcystin-LR with a glassy carbon impedimetric immunoelectrode modified with an ionic liquid and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report on a sensitive, simple, label-free impedance-based immunoelectrode for the determination of microcystin-LR (MCLR). The surface of the electrode was modified with a composite made from multiwalled carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid, and with immobilized polyclonal antibody against MCLR. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were applied to characterize the modified electrode. It is found that the multi-walled carbon nanotubes act as excellent mediators for the electron transfer between the electrode and dissolved hexacyanoferrate redox pair, while the ionic liquid renders it biocompatible. The method exhibits a wide linear range (0.005 μg?L-1 to 1.0 μg?L-1), a low detection limit (1.7 ng?L-1) and a long-term stability of around 60 days. The ionic liquid 1-amyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate gave the best impedimetric response. The new immunoelectrode is sensitive, stable, and easily prepared. It has been successfully applied to the determination of MCLR in water samples.

基于原位聚合离子液体凝胶的固态电致变色器件的制备及性能研究

本文通过在离子液体BmimPF6中原位热聚合甲基丙烯酸甲酯得到了透明的离子液体凝胶。通过交流阻抗测定,当BmimPF6与甲基丙烯酸甲酯的质量比为5∶1时,离子液体凝胶的导电率为1.33×10-3Scm-1。将通过电化学沉积制得的三氧化钨(WO3)和普鲁士蓝(PB)修饰FTO电极,与上述离子液体凝胶一起组装得到了全固态的电致变色器件。原位吸收光谱数据显示所制得的电致变色器件,在±2V的工作电压下,具有稳定的电致变色响应,其着色和褪色时间分别为4.5s和4.0s,着色效率达190cm2C-1(λ=660nm)。     

Broadband radio-absorbing materials based on porous composites with carbon nanotubes

The reflection coefficient of an electromagnetic wave has been theoretically studied as a function of the thickness of a material and its dielectric properties. Samples based on spheroplastics with noncovalently modified carbon nanotubes have been obtained. The radio-engineering and electrophysical properties of these composites are discussed as well. The prospects for applying porous nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes in the fabrication of radio-absorbing materials are also shown.     

Biosensor for chlorogenic acid based on an ionic liquid containing iridium nanoparticles and polyphenol oxidase

A biosensor based on the ionic liquid, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate containing dispersed iridium nanoparticles (Ir-BMI.PF₆) and polyphenol oxidase was constructed. This enzyme was obtained from the sugar apple (Annona squamosa), immobilized in chitosan ionically crosslinked with oxalate. The biosensor was used for determination of chlorogenic acid by square wave voltammetry. The polyphenol oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of chlorogenic acid to the corresponding o-quinone, which is electrochemically reduced back to this substance at +0.25 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Under optimized operational conditions the chlorogenic acid concentration was linear in the range of 3.48 × 10⁻⁶ to 4.95 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 9.15 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The biosensor was applied in the determination of chlorogenic acid in organic and decaffeinated coffee and the results compared with those obtained using the capillary electrophoresis method. The recovery study for chlorogenic acid in these samples gave values of 93.2-105.7%.     

Disposable electrochemical immunosensor for myeloperoxidase based on the indium tin oxide electrode modified with an ionic liquid composite film containing gold nanoparticles, poly(o-phenylenediamine) and carbon nanotubes

A disposable electrochemical myeloperoxidase (MPO) immunosensor was fabricated based on the indium tin oxide electrode modified with a film composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), poly(o-phenylenediamine), multi-walled carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid. The composite film on the surface of the electrode was prepared by in situ electropolymerization using the ionic liquid as a supporting electrolyte. Negatively charged AuNPs were then adsorbed on the modified electrode via amine-gold affinity and to immobilize MPO antibody. Finally, bovine serum albumin was employed to block possible remaining active sites on the AuNPs. The modification of the electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. The factors affecting the performance of the immunosensor were investigated in detail using the hexacyanoferrate redox system. The sensor exhibited good response to MPO over two linear ranges (from 0.2 to 23.4 and from 23.4 to 300 ng.mL^?1), with a detection limit of 0.05 ng.mL^?1 (at an S/N of 3).

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of composites based on carbon nanotubes and polyaniline

composites made of polyaniline and multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been electrochemically synthesized. The modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by a salt of phenyldiazonium significantly increases the redox currents of the polyaniline matrix in the composite. As a result of modification, the conformational state of polyaniline macrochains changes, leading to changes in the morphology, structure, and chemical composition of the composite.