Amperometric ascorbate sensor based on conducting polymer: Poly(N-methylaniline) versus polyaniline

Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbate (vitamin C) at poly(N-methylaniline) modified electrode has been studied and compared with that proceeding at polyaniline modified sensor. A sigmoid-shaped anodic current transient as a response to addition of ascorbate was found for polyaniline modified electrode in pH-neutral solution, whereas a ‘normal-shaped’ current transient was found to be characteristic for poly(N-methylaniline) modified electrode. Based on this, a hypothesis on the autocatalytic mechanism for electrochemical oxidation of ascorbate was confirmed. It has been shown that poly(N-methylaniline) modified electrode can be used as an amperometric ascorbate sensor, operating in slightly acidic or pH-neutral buffer solutions at a controlled potential of 0.1-0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl, and the dependencies of current response on ascorbate concentration, the thickness of a polymer layer, and operating potential have been analyzed.     

Electrochemical synthesis and corrosion performance of poly(pyrrole-co-o-anisidine)

The electrochemical synthesis of poly(o-anisidine) homopolymer and its copolymerization with pyrrole have been investigated on mild steel. The copolymer films have been synthesized from aqueous oxalic acid solutions containing different ratios of monomer concentrations: pyrrole:o-anisidine, 9:1, 8:2, 6:4, 1:1. The characterization of polymer films were achieved with FT-IR, UV–visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The electrochemical synthesis of homogeneous-stable poly(o-anisidine) film with desired thickness was very difficult on steel surface. Therefore its copolymer with pyrrole has been studied to obtain a polymer film, which could be synthesized easily and posses the good physical–chemical properties of anisidine. The kinetics and rate of copolymer film growth were strongly related to monomer feed ratio. The introduction of pyrrole unit into synthesis solution increased the rate of polymerization and the substrate surface became covered with polymer film soon, while this process required longer periods in single o-anisidine containing solution. The protective behavior of coatings has been investigated against steel corrosion in 3.5% NaCl solution. For this aim electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and anodic polarization curves were utilized. The synthesized poly(o-anisidine) coating exhibited significant protection efficiency against mild steel corrosion. It was shown that 6:4 ratio of pyrrole and anisidine solution gave the most stable and corrosion protective copolymer coating.     

Mobilities of charge carriers in poly(o-methylaniline) and poly(o-methoxyaniline)

Mobilities of charge carriers in poly(o-methylaniline) (PMA) and poly(o-methoxyaniline) (PMOA) films are electrochemically determined over a range of oxidation stages of the polymer films. In the low oxidation region, mobilities of both the polymers are comparable to that of polyaniline (PANI). In the high oxidation region, however, mobility values systematically decrease in the order of PANI > PMA > PMOA, showing that the bulky groups present at the ortho position play a more important role in the high oxidation region. The low mobilities of charge carriers in the high oxidation region explain why PMA and PMOA are less conducting than PANI.     

Electrochemical synthesis of bilayer coatings of poly(N-methylaniline) and polypyrrole on mild steel and their corrosion protection performances

Homopolymer and bilayer coatings of poly(N-methylaniline) (PNMA) and polypyrrole-dodecylsulfate (PPy-DS) have been electropolymerized on a mild steel (MS) surface by the potentiodynamic method in aqueous oxalic acid solutions. In order to include dodecylsulfate ion as dopant in the polypyrrole, sodium dodecylsulfate was also added to the polymerization solution of pyrrole. Characterization of coatings was carried out by the cyclic voltammetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Corrosion behavior of the polymer coated MS electrodes was investigated in highly aggressive 0.5 M HCl solution by the Tafel test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Corrosion test revealed that among the protective coatings obtained, the PNMA/PPy-DS bilayer exhibited the best corrosion resistance at all immersion times.     

Spectroscopic studies of polymer electrolytes based on poly(N-ethylethylenimine) and poly(N-methylethylenimine)

Poly(ethylethylenimine), PEEI, was prepared from poly(ethylenimine) by reductive alkylation with acetaldehyde. Samples of PEEI and poly(methylenimine), PMEI, complexed with LiCF₃SO₃ were prepared and characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and FT-IR. Small differences in the room temperature spectra of the two complexes were noted; these differences were due to the presence of a CH₂ group in the side chain of PEEI. The predominant form of cation-anion interactions was a contact ion pair. As the samples were heated, a transition from ion pairs to “free” ions was observed, with most of the change occurring between 140 and 150 °C in both PEEI and PMEI complexes. Thermal cycling established that the transition was irreversible in the time frame of the cycling experiments. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy did not show any significant intensity or frequency changes in bands sensitive to cation-polymer interactions during any heating or cooling cycle.     

Poly(N-ethylaniline) coatings on 304 stainless steel for corrosion protection in aqueous HCl and NaCl solutions

Poly(N-ethylaniline) (PNEA) coatings were grown by potentiodynamic synthesis technique on 304 stainless steel (SS) alloy from 0.1 M of N-ethylaniline (NEA) in 0.3 M oxalic acid solution. Characterization of adhesive and electroactive PNEA coatings was carried out by cyclic voltammetry, FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The protective properties of PNEA coatings on SS were elucidated using linear anodic potentiodynamic polarization, Tafel and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test techniques, in highly aggressive 0.5 M HCl and 0.5 M NaCl solutions. Linear anodic potentiodynamic polarization test results proved that PNEA coating improved the degree of protection against pitting corrosion in HCl and NaCl solutions. Tafel test results showed that PNEA coating appears to enhancement protection for SS in 0.5 M NaCl and 0.5 M HCl solutions. However, according to long-term EIS results, PNEA coating is better for the protection of SS electrodes during the long immersion period in NaCl compared to that in HCl medium.     

Electropolymerization of poly(N-ethyl aniline) on mild steel: Synthesis, characterization and corrosion protection

Poly(N-ethylaniline) (PNEA) coatings on the mild steel electrode were synthesized by electrochemical oxidation of N-ethylaniline using aqueous oxalic acid solutions as reaction medium. Electrodeposition was carried out by potentiodynamic, potentiostatic and galvanostatic synthesis techniques. Smooth, adhesive and thick PNEA coatings on mild steel could be electrosynthesized during sequential scanning of the potential region between −0.5 and 1.4 V versus SCE, with scan rate of 20 mV s⁻¹. The electrodeposited coatings were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, FT-IR and UV-vis techniques. Corrosion behavior of PNEA coated steels was investigated by linear anodic potentiodynamic polarization technique and Tafel test. Anodic potentiodynamic polarization results showed that electrodissolution current value of PNEA coated steel decreased about 90% compared to that of the uncoated steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ aqueous solution. Tafel plots showed also strong decrease of corrosion current for the PNEA coated electrode compared to the uncoated steel electrode in 3% NaCl as corrosive medium.     

Controllable synthesis of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and its block copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization

At room temperature atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) was carried out using 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-azacyclo-tetradecane (Me₆Cyclam) as ligand in 1,4-dioxane/isopropanol mixture. Methyl 2-chloropropionate (MCP) and copper(I) chloride were used as initiator and catalyst, respectively. The polymerization of NVP via ATRP could be mediated by the addition of CuCl₂. The resultant poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP) has high conversion of up to 65% in 3 h, a controlled molecular weight close to the theoretical values and narrow molecular weight distribution between 1.2 and 1.3. The living nature of the ATRP for NVP was confirmed by the experiments of PNVP chain extension. With PNVP-Cl as macroinitiator and N-methacryloyl-N′-(α-naphthyl)thiourea (MANTU) as a hydrophobic monomer, novel fluorescent amphiphilic copolymers poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-b-poly(N-methacryloyl-N′-(α-naphthyl)thiourea) (PNVP-b-PMANTU) were synthesized by ATRP. PNVP-b-PMANTU copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, GPC-MALLS and fluorescence measurements. The results revealed that PNVP-b-PMANTU presented a blocky architecture.     

Electrochemical synthesis of poly(5-nitroindole) on 316L-stainless steel in LiClO4-acetonitrile solution and its corrosion performance

The preparation of poly(5-nitroindole) (P5NI) coating was achieved on 316L-stainless steel (SS). Poly(5-nitroindole) was deposited via anodic oxidation of the corresponding monomer in acetonitrile (ACN) solution containing LiClO₄. The influence of P5NI coating against SS corrosion was studied in 3.5% NaCl solution by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), anodic polarization curves and the open circuit potential–time (E_ocp–t) diagrams. The results obtained suggest that P5NI coating forms a sacrificial layer but the efficiency against corrosion is limited with increasing time.     

Electropolymerization, characterization and corrosion performance of poly(N-ethylaniline) on copper

Poly(N-ethylaniline) (PNEA) coatings were grown by cyclic voltammetry technique on copper from 0.1 M N-ethylaniline (NEA) in 0.3 M oxalic acid solution. The optimum conditions (e.g. upper potential limit, scan rate and cycle number) effect on corrosion performance of synthesized PNEA films were determined in order to obtain best protection results against corrosion. The electrodeposited coatings were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), Fourier Transform Infrared-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Redox parameters were found after electrochemical tests and results of stability tests of these films impart an electroactive behavior that is composed of both diffusion control and thin film behavior. In addition, corrosion performance of PNEA coatings were investigated in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ by Tafel extrapolation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques.     

Thermosensitive poly(allylamine)-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): synthesis, phase separation and particle formation

Grafting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) having carboxylic groups at one end onto poly(allylamine) (PAH) in the presence of water soluble carbodiimide has yielded PAH-g-PNIPAAm copolymers with grafting ratios of 50, 29 and 18, respectively. These thermosensitive copolymers exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at 34 °C at a temperature increase cycle regardless of their grafting ratios, a temperature identical to that of PNIPAAm-COOH oligomers. Temperature cycling reveals completely reversible polymer aggregation and dissolution above and below the LCST, respectively. Much smaller particle sizes are observed by scanning force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy compared to dynamic light scattering. A porous sphere model is suggested to depict the structure of the particles formed above the LCST, by which the dependence of the particle sizes on their grafting ratios is interpreted taking into account the surface tension and the spatial aggregation distance. Finally, to demonstrate the capability of the copolymers being used as thermosensitive polyelectrolytes, assembly onto multilayers is conducted and the increase of layer thickness is confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering and ellipsometry characterizations.     

Degradation and geometric isomerization of poly(N-propargylamides)

The stability of several poly(N-propargylamides) was investigated in solution and in solid state on the basis of molecular weight change with time, and further their thermal stability was investigated by TGA. When the stability of poly(N-propargylamides) with varying pendent groups was compared, polymers with pendent groups of moderate size showed the highest stability in solution. Too short and too bulky pendent groups were not favorable for the stability of polymers. When poly(N-propargylheptanamide) (poly(6)) was stored in THF as solution at −20 °C in the absence of oxygen in dark, its degradation rate was the lowest. The degradation rate of poly(6) depended on the solvents used, which may be related to different solubility of oxygen in these solvents. Polymers with high cis contents degraded faster than polymers with low cis contents did. Addition of TEMPO and DPPH into the poly(6)/THF solution more or less depressed the degradation of poly(6). The degradation of polymer main chain in solution was always accompanied by the decrease of cis content, i.e. geometric isomerization from cis- to trans-structure. When the polymers were stored in the solid state at −20 °C, the polymers having alkyl pendent groups with moderate length were more stable than those with bulky pendent groups. Geometric isomerization occurred along with degradation in the solid state as well.     

Thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanocapsules with controlled permeability

In this paper, novel thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanocapsules with temperature-tunable diameter and permeability are reported. Firstly, the core-shell composite microparticles were synthesized by precipitation polymerization with isothiocyanate fluorescein (FITC) entrapped SiO₂ as core and cross-linked PNIPAM as shell. Then, the SiO₂ core was etched by hydrofluoric acid at certain condition and the pre-trapped FITC molecules remained within the inner cavity. The FITC release profile and TEM studies clearly indicate that the release behavior of FITC could be controlled effectively by the external temperature. Above the LCST of PNIPAM (32 °C), the dehydrated PNIPAM shell inhibited the release of FITC from the internal cavity while below its LCST, the fluorophore could permeate the swollen shell easily.     

Dynamic mechanical and tensile properties of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)-poly(ethylene glycol) blends

Mechanical properties of miscible blends of high molecular weight poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) with a short-chain, liquid poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of molecular weight 400 g/mol have been examined as a function of PVP-PEG composition and degree of hydration. The small-strain behavior in the linear elastic region has been evaluated with the dynamic mechanical analysis and compared with the viscoelastic behavior of PVP-PEG blends under large strains in the course of uniaxial drawing to fracture and under cyclic extension. A strong decoupling between the small-strain and the large strain properties of the blends has been observed, indicative of a pronounced deviation from rubber elasticity in the behavior of the blends. This deviation, also seen on tensile tests under fast drawing, is attributed to the peculiar phase behavior of the blends and the molecular mechanism of PVP-PEG interaction. Nevertheless, for the PVP blend with 36% PEG, under comparatively low extension rates, the reversible contribution to the total work of deformation up to ε=300% has been found to be maximum at around 70%, while the blends containing 31 and 41% PEG behave rather as an elastic-plastic solid and a viscoelastic liquid, respectively.     

Thermally responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) monolayer on gold: synthesis, surface characterization, and protein interaction/adsorption studies

This report describes a novel method for preparing a thermally responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) monolayer on a gold surface, and demonstrates the function of this monolayer in aqueous media. Thiol (-SH) terminated PNiPAM was synthesized by UV polymerization followed by hydrolysis, and a monolayer of this polymer (2.84±0.2 nm) was prepared on a gold substrate by simply dipping a precleaned gold plate into an aqueous solution of the PNiPAM. Cyclic voltametry and atomic force microscopy studies showed that the gold surface was well covered by the PNiPAM chains, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data showed that this monolayer was chemisorbed on the gold surface. Studies of the water contact angle, protein interaction, and protein adsorption on the PNiPAM monolayer demonstrated that this monolayer shows a temperature dependence of the interfacial properties in aqueous media.     

Characterization of electrospun poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) fibers

Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (pNIPAM) is an interesting material in that it shows a thermoresponsive behavior around 32 °C in aqueous solutions. This behavior mimics that of many proteins in solution and as a result, many researchers have studied pNIPAM as a model for protein behavior. Yet, little is known about the processability of pNIPAM into three-dimensional matrices and whether such processing affects polymer conformation. In this work, 3D fibrous mats of pNIPAM were prepared by electrospinning from three different solvents and the resulting morphologies evaluated. Additionally, electrospun pNIPAM was evaluated with polarized Raman and infrared spectroscopies and compared against the spectra of the bulk material. It was found that the electrospinning process did not alter the polymer structure or morphology.     

Modification of poly(N-vinyl-carbazole) thin films by bromine doping

Poly(N-vinyl-carbazole) (PVK) thin films doped with bromine has been studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron spin resonance (ESR), optical transmission (visible, near ultra violet) and conductivity measurements. The polymer has been doped at room temperature and at 373 K. It is shown by ESR, XPS and optical measurements that a charge transfer complex (CT-complex) is formed between PVK and Br. However, if some bromine acts as dopant of the polymer there is another bromine contribution, which corresponds to bromine covalently bonded to PVK and some only adsorbed. It is also shown by ESR that there is not only polymer doping by bromine but also some partial polymer degradation. Therefore, it can be said that the optimum doping condition of PVK thin films with bromine has been shown to be room temperature post-doping.     

Thermo-, and pH dual-responsive poly(N-vinylimidazole): Preparation,characterization and its switchable catalytic activity

A monomer, 2-(isobutyramido)-3-methylbutyl methacrylate (IMMA) was synthesized through a two-step reaction. When a few of IMMA (less than 4 mol%) was copolymerized with N-vinylimidazole (VIm) under free radical polymerization condition, water-soluble P(VIm-co-IMMA) copolymers were obtained. Their structural information was verified and interpreted from ¹H NMR, FTIR and GPC. Kinetic analyses from ¹H NMR demonstrated that one-batch addition of IMMA into the polymerization system led to an inhomogeneous distribution of IMMA units in the copolymers, whereas homogeneous distribution of IMMA units in the copolymers could be obtained through the portion-wise addition of IMMA monomer. The thermal properties of such copolymers were measured by DSC. Compared with PVIm homopolymer, the few IMMA units in the P(VIm-co-IMMA) copolymer had little influence on the T_g values. The obtained P(VIm-co-IMMA) copolymers were thermoresponsive in water, and their phase transition temperatures could be efficiently raised through reducing the IMMA content in the copolymers, raising the addition times of IMMA monomers or lowering the pH of media. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed that unlike the traditional thermoresponsive linear polymers, obvious size shrinkage around the phase transition temperature could not be observed in such P(VIm-co-IMMA) copolymers. Such copolymers could be used as smart organocatalysts in the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate. Below the phase transition temperature the reaction rate followed the Arrhenius law, but above the phase transition temperature the reaction rate increased much slower than the prediction from the Arrhenius law. Moreover, the catalytic transition temperature could be tuned through utilizing the P(VIm-co-IMMA) copolymers with different phase transition temperature. The mechanism was discussed accordingly.     

Effect of hydrophobic polystyrene microphases on temperature-responsive behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization was employed to prepare the crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-graft-polystyrene networks (PNIPAAm-g-PS). Due to the immiscibility of PNIPAAm with PS, the crosslinked PNIPAAm-g-PS copolymers displayed the microphase-separated morphology. While the PNIPAAm-g-PS copolymer networks were subjected to the swelling experiments, it is found that the PS block-containing PNIPAAm hydrogels significantly exhibited faster response to the external temperature changes according to swelling, deswelling, and reswelling experiments than the conventional PNIPAAm hydrogels. The improved thermo-responsive properties of hydrogels have been interpreted on the basis of the formation of the specific microphase-separated morphology in the hydrogels, i.e., the PS blocks pendent from the crosslinked PNIPAAm networks were self-assembled into the highly hydrophobic nanodomains, which behave as the microporogens and thus promote the contact of PNIPAAm chains and water. The self-organized morphology in the hydrogels was further confirmed by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). The PCS shows that the linear model block copolymers of PNIPAAm-g-PS networks were self-organized into micelle structures, i.e., the PS domains constitute the hydrophobic nanodomains in PNIPAAm-g-PS networks.     

Synthesis and thermo-responsive behavior of fluorescent labeled microgel particles based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its related polymers

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgel particles labeled with 3-(2-propenyl)-9-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)phenanthrene (VDP) as an intramolecular fluorescent probe were prepared by emulsion polymerization. The thermo-responsive behavior of the VDP-labeled PNIPAM microgel particles dispersed in water was studied by turbidimetric and fluorescence analyses. The transition temperature of the VDP-labeled PNIPAM microgel particles in water determined by turbidimetric analysis was ca. 32.5 °C. The wavelength at the maximum fluorescence intensity of the VDP units linked directly to the microgel particles dramatically blue-shifted around the transition temperature. In addition it gradually blue-shifted even below the transition temperature where there was no change observed in the turbidity. These findings suggest that the gradual shrinking of microgel particles occurs with increasing temperature and the subsequent dramatic shrinking results in the increasing in the turbidity. The transition temperatures of VDP-labeled poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) and poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) microgel particles determined by turbidimetric analysis were ca. 23 and ca. 42.5 °C, respectively, and their thermo-responsive behavior was similar to that for the VDP-labeled PNIPAM system. In these three systems the microenvironments around the fluorescent probes above the transition temperatures became more hydrophobic than those below the transition temperature, and the estimated values of microenvionmental polarity around the VDP units on their collapsed states were almost the same.