Electrochemistry of conductive polymers: 41. Effects of self-assembled monolayers of aminothiophenols on polyaniline films

Effects of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of a few different aminothiophenols (ATPs) on growth, morphology, and electrical properties of polyaniline have been studied at gold electrodes employing current sensing atomic force microscopy. The 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) SAM showed the best capability of shuttling electrons from the gold electrode to the solution species, and the 4-ATP SAM covered electrode not only showed the best kinetics for the film growth but also produced the film of the highest electrical conductivity. The vertical conductivity of the film ranged from 58 S cm⁻¹ for a film prepared at a bare gold electrode to as high as 148 S cm⁻¹ for a film obtained at the 4-ATP SAM covered electrode. The conductivity was shown to depend on the thickness of the films as well as how they were prepared.     

Influence of charged tail groups of self-assembled monolayers on electrodeposition of polyaniline

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiols with three different tail groups, −COOH, −SO₃Na, and −NH₂, were used to modify the Au substrates for electrodepositing polyaniline (PANI). Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) results indicated a slower rate of deposition of PANI on a SAM surface consisting of positively charged amine groups compared to polymerization on bare gold and on a SAM of carboxyl acid groups. The properties of the SAM layers are dependent on the pH value of the solutions, and are effective only at very low pH values (pH < 2). A layer of the positively charged amino groups in acidic solution acted as a barrier for electron transfer in electro-oxidation of aniline monomer. The positively charged SAM of amine groups also increased repulsion between the coupled aniline species and the electrode surface and in this way hindered electrodeposition. Modification of the surface with pre-patterned SAMs have been demonstrated to be a convenient and practical way to fabricate selectively deposited thin films of polyaniline.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly[bis(3-aminophenyl) diselenide] and Poly[bis(3-aminophenyl) diselenide-co-aniline]

Summary Bis(m-aminophenyl)diselenide was synthesized by diazotation of m-nitroaniline followed by incorporation of potassium selenium cyanate, and the reduction of the nitro groups by addition of tin and concentrated HCl. This dihydrochloride monomer was polymerised using ammonium persulphate in 0.25 M HCl as oxidizing agent. Copolymers of aniline with bis(m-aminophenyl)diselenide were prepared by oxidation of diselenide and aniline mixtures, at several mole ratios of aniline in the feed (f₁), with the same oxidizing agent. In the all the range of polymers analysed there are more diselenide comonomer units than aniline units. The polymer and copolymers were characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, thermal stability and electrical conductivity, showing a high thermal stability, with a weight loss of 10% at 400 °C and there is an important effect of groups diselenide on the electrical properties, because conductivities are highly modified when the substitution is in m-position in the aniline ring. Therefore, it is necessary to add a high mole ratio of aniline in the feed to obtain copolymers with conductivities within the semi-conduction range.     

Polymerization of Aniline Using Iron(III) Catalyst and Ozone,and Kinetics of Oxidation Reactions in the Catalytic System

The environmentally benign polymerization of aniline provided polyaniline with an emeraldine structure by using iron(III) and ozone which is easily converted from oxygen in air. The influence of the reaction temperature upon the molecular weight of the polyaniline in this system is different from that in the polymerization of aniline using ammonium peroxodisulfate as an oxidant. Although the polyaniline prepared here has low molecular weight, the low molecular weight of the polyaniline does not significantly influence the electrical conductivity of cast films. In contrast, this can provide an advantage for the engineering of polyaniline through solution‐processing. Kinetics of oxidation reactions in the polymerization, systematically investigated here, has revealed that polyaniline is produced catalytically in terms of iron(III) and that an oxidation reaction of iron(II) to iron(III) could be a rate‐determining step in the polymerization.     

Potassium iodate–initiated polymerization of aniline

Potassium iodate–initiated polymerization of aniline was carried out in an acidified aqueous medium in the presence and in the absence of sodium thiosulfate salt. The nature of the polyaniline (PANI) produced depended on the aniline/potassium iodate (A/PI) mole ratio. Green emeraldine salt (ES) and blue pernigraniline salt (PS) were produced at A/PI mole ratios greater than 2 and less than 2, respectively. The sodium thiosulfate salt played a significant role in the purification and properties of PANI. The optimum aniline‐to‐oxidant mole ratio was found to be 2 : 1. Spectral, thermal, and electrical characteristics and viscosity of the materials were studied and compared with the results. A reaction scheme has been proposed to elucidate the role of iodine(V). Sodium thiosulfate makes it easier for iodine to be separated from a system and increases the conductivity of the products. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1626–1631, 2007     

Polyaniline prepared in ethylene glycol or glycerol

Oxidations of aniline or aniline hydrochloride have been carried out in ethylene glycol or glycerol and in their mixtures with water. Ammonium peroxydisulfate was used as oxidant. The oxidation of aniline is exothermic and changes in temperature were monitored to follow its progress. The effect of the solvents on the course of oxidation, morphology, and properties of final products has been studied by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and conductivity measurements. It is proposed that the reduction of dielectric constant of the reaction medium results in the reduced dissociation of ionic species that take a part in oxidative polymerization. Consequently, the addition of an organic solvent has a similar effect as a decrease in the acidity of the reaction mixture. Conductivity and morphology depend on the mole ratio of oxidant and monomer, and the type and volume fractions of organic solvents, viz. ethylene glycol and glycerol, which were used in reactions.     

Adsorption behavior of monomers and formation of conducting polymers on polyester fibers

In situ adsorption of monomers on fibers plays a key role in fabricating highly conductive polyaniline (PANI)‐based textiles by two‐stage oxidation polymerization. Experiments were conducted in aniline monomer and hydrochloric acid solution with the variables such as contact time, initial concentration, and temperature, which can enhance the equilibrium adsorption capacity to aniline of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers. Equilibrium data were fit well by a Henry partition‐type isotherm equation. It was found that the kinetics of the adsorption of aniline onto PET fibers at different operating conditions was best described by the pseudo‐second‐order model. The rate parameters of the intraparticle diffusion model for adsorption were also evaluated and compared to identify the adsorption mechanisms. The monomer exhaustion increased with increasing the temperature. The value of electrical surface resistance of conductive textiles about 3.2 kΩ was obtained when the padder squeeze step was introduced, and the molar ratio of 0.6 between the oxidant concentration and the exhausted concentration of monomers at the adsorption equilibrium was applied. Scanning electron micrographs of PANI/PET composite surfaces were observed, conforming that smooth films were produced by surface polymerization of aniline monomers adsorbed previously on fibers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Catalytic oxidization polymerization of aniline in an H2O2?Fe2+ system

Polyaniline is prepared by chemical polymerization of aniline in an acidic solution using H₂O₂ as an oxidant and ferrous chloride as a catalyst. A wide variety of synthesis parameters are studied, such as the amount of the catalyst, reaction temperature, reaction time, initial molar ratio of oxidant, monomer and catalyst, and aniline and HCl concentrations. The polymerization of aniline can be initiated by a very small amount of catalyst. The yield and the conductivity of product depend on the initial molar ratio of the oxidant and monomer. The polyaniline with a conductivity of about 10° S/cm and a yield of 60% is prepared under optimum conditions. The process of polymerization was studied by in situ ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and open‐circuit potential technology. Compared to the polymerization process in a (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ system, the features of the H₂O₂ Fe²⁺ system are pointed out, and the chain growth mechanism is proposed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1077–1084, 1999     

A new cleaning methodology for efficient Au-SAM removal

The desorption of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 11-amino-1-undecanethiol (AUT) formed on an Au polycrystalline electrode was investigated with the purpose of establishing the most efficient method for SAM removal prior to electrode re-use. The cleanliness of the surface was evaluated by assessing the characteristics (and their reproducibility) of a newly prepared SAM (on a freshly cleaned electrode) in the presence of Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ probe species. The simple flame annealing of the modified electrodes showed poor reproducibility. Later, cleaning treatments based on previous reports about the electrochemical desorption of SAMs, were investigated in NaOH, HClO₄, and KCl solutions. The anodic removal in alkaline and chloride solutions was not efficient enough due to the effect of the Au surface oxidation and dissolution. The commonly used reductive desorption in alkaline solution did also not offer a high efficiency (in contrast with the behavior described in those reports) probably due to the low stability of the thiolate molecules at high-pH values. In addition, such procedures did not provide a way to visualize the evolution of the process. The oxidative desorption in perchloric acid showed a higher efficiency at each single desorption cycle, and allowed to monitor the extension of the removal by comparing the cyclic voltammograms obtained in that medium with the expected fingerprint for the bare Au. However the voltammetric characterization of new AUT films, prepared on such electrochemically treated surfaces by re-incubation in the AUT solution, showed that the conditions of substrate cleanliness and smoothness necessaries to reproduce a close-packed and compact AUT monolayer were not reached. A new cleaning strategy based on the coupled use of oxidative removal in HClO₄ 0.1 M and flame annealing showed to be efficient and reproducible, providing the proper substrate precursors for the formation of highly ordered AUT films. The results also showed that the methodology works well in the removal of other SAMs like the one formed by the neutral 1-dodecanethiol (1-DT).     

Recovery of gold by electroless precipitation from acid solutions using polyaniline

The oxidation of the leucoemeraldine (LM) and emeraldine (EM) states of polyaniline (PAN) and the subsequent reprotonation and reduction of the nigraniline (NA) and pernigraniline (PNA) in acid gold solution were utilized for the spontaneous and sustained reduction of gold. The rate of Au reduction is strongly dependent on the intrinsic oxidation state of the polymer and the polymer surface area. The rate also increases with decreasing pH of the chloroauric solution to about pH ～ 1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) results indicate that only elemental gold or Au(0) accumulates on the polymer surface. The N1s core-level spectra of the protonated and base form of EM films after Au reduction confirm that the intrinsic structure of the polymer remains intact. The process, however, is limited by the decreasing effective surface area of the polymer due to Au deposition. The results indicate that an LM film accumulated up to five times its own weight of Au (Au/monomer mole ratio > 2) before the recovery rate was significantly retarded.     

Polyaniline prepared in solutions of phosphoric acid: Powders, thin films, and colloidal dispersions

Polyaniline (PANI) has been prepared by the oxidation of aniline with ammonium peroxydisulfate in the 0-4 M phosphoric acid. The maximum conductivity of PANI, 15.5 S cm⁻¹, was found with PANI prepared in the presence of 1 M phosphoric acid. The mass loss after deprotonation with ammonium hydroxide revealed that relatively large amounts of phosphoric acid were associated with PANI if the polymerization had been carried out at higher acid concentration. This suggests the protonation of both the imine and amine nitrogens in PANI, the increased adsorption of phosphoric acid by PANI, or the presence of polyphosphate counter-ions. The increasing content of phosphoric acid is also reflected in the increase of sample density. FTIR spectra of ammonium salts collected after deprotonation proved that the counter-ions of the sulfate type, resulting from the decomposition of peroxydisulfate, always participated in the protonation of PANI. The proportion of sulfate to phosphate counter-ions was reduced as the concentration of phosphoric acid in the medium increased.Thin PANI films were produced in situ on glass surfaces immersed in the reaction mixture during the polymerization of aniline. Optical absorption has been used to assess their thickness, 70-140 nm, which was found to be virtually independent of the acid concentration. The film conductivity was comparable with the conductivity of the PANI powders produced at the same time. Colloidal dispersions were obtained when the reaction mixture contained poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone). The particle size, 200-260 nm, and polydispersity, determined by dynamic light scattering, were virtually independent of the concentration of phosphoric acid. The films produced on glass during the dispersion polymerization of aniline were thinner, 20-90 nm, compared with those grown in the precipitation polymerization.     

Preparation and characterization of processable electroactive polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol composite

In this paper, the preparation and characterization of polyaniline-polyvinyl alcohol composites is described. The polyaniline composite was synthesized by chemical polymerization of aniline in media containing polyvinyl alcohol (10%, w/w). Oxidation of aniline results in a stable water based polyaniline dispersion, which can be cast to form a mechanically robust film.The electrical conductivity of the films increased with increasing amount of polyaniline to a high value of 2.5 S cm⁻¹. Cyclic voltammograms revealed that the composite materials are electroactive.     

Synthesis and properties of a functional copolymer from N-ethylaniline and aniline by an emulsion polymerization

A series of functional copolymers was synthesized by an emulsion polymerization of N-ethylaniline (EA) and aniline (AN) in the presence of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate in HCl. Several important polymer parameters including the polymerization yield, molecular weight, solubility, film formability, solvatochromism, thermochromism, and alterable electrical conductivity were systematically studied by changing the comonomer ratio, emulsifier/monomer ratio, oxidant/monomer ratio, solvent, and temperature. The resulted copolymers were characterized in detail by infrared and UV-vis spectroscopies. It is found that these copolymers exhibit narrow molecular weight distribution, good solubility, excellent film flexibility, colorful solvatochromism in various solvents, reversible thermochromism in a wide temperature range, and widely controllable conductivity from 2.03×10⁻¹⁰ to 0.161 S/cm with changing the polymerization conditions and doping states.     

Test-beds for molecular electronics: metal-molecules-metal junctions based on Hg electrodes

Junctions based on mesoscopic Hg electrodes are used to characterize the electrical properties of the organic molecules organized in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The junctions M-SAM//SAM-Hg are formed by one electrode based on metals (M) such as Hg, Ag, Au, covered by a SAM, and by a second electrode always formed by a Hg drop carrying also a SAM. The electrodes, brought together by using a micromanipulator, sandwich SAMs of different nature at the contact area (approximately = 0.7 microm2). The high versatility of the system allows a series of both electrical and electrochemical junctions to be assembled and characterized: (i) The compliant nature of the Hg electrodes allows incorporation into the junction and measurement of the electrical behavior of a large number of molecular systems and correlation of their electronic structure to the electrical behavior; (ii) by functionalizing both electrodes with SAMs exposing different functional groups, X and Y, it is possible to compare the rate of electron transfer through different X...Y molecular interactions; (iii) when the junction incorporates one of the electrode formed by a semitransparent film of Au, it allows electrical measurements under irradiation of the sandwiched SAMs. In this case the junction behaves as a photoswitch; iv) incorporation of redox centres with low lying, easily reachable energy levels, provides electron stations as indicated by the hopping mechanism dominating the current flow; (v) electrochemical junctions incorporating redox centres by both covalent and electrostatic interactions permit control of the potential of the electrodes with respect to that of the redox state by means of an external reference electrode. Both these junctions show an electrical behavior similar to that of conventional diodes, even though the mechanism generating the current flow is different. These systems, demonstrating high mechanical stability and reproducibility, easy assembly, and a wide variety of produced results, are convenient test-beds for molecular electronics and represent a useful complement to physics-based experimental methods.     

Polyaniline synthesis catalysed by glucose oxidase

A novel method for synthesis of polyaniline (PANI) in aqueous media based on application of oxidizing-enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) is reported. Hydrogen peroxide was produced during catalytic reaction of oxidizing-enzyme glucose oxidase from Penicillium vitale and initiated the polymerization of aniline. The increase in optical absorbance in the range of 340-700 nm was exploited for the monitoring of PANI polymerization process. The role of GOx in the formation of PANI, influence of the initial concentrations of GOx, and glucose and aniline monomer on the aniline polymerization rate was studied. The study of pH influence on polymerization rate showed that PANI polymerization was occurring in a broad pH range from the pH 2.0 to 9.0. Optimal polymerization/oligomerization temperature was found to be at 37 °C, which is also optimal for GOx-catalysed enzymatic reaction. After 10 days of continuous GOx-catalysed polymerization PANI appeared as colloid-microparticles visible by an optical microscope.     

Formation and characterization of low resistivity sub-100 nm copper films deposited by electroless on SAM

Thin Cu films of microelectronic quality and low electrical resistivity were created by electroless deposition (ELD) onto SiO₂ surface modified first with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and activated then by 5 nm gold nano-particles (AuNPs). The presence of highly oriented amino-terminated SAM was revealed by XPS and ToF-SIMS analyses. The Cu films were deposited in boron- and phosphorous-free tartrate/formaldehyde electrolyte. Controlling the deposition rate via the solution pH permitted a minimum value in resistivity ρ. XPS depth profile revealed that diffusion of Cu into SiO₂ modified by APTMS did not take place after annealing at 220 °C, 4 h. Moreover, annealing resulted in the drop of electrical resistivity to ρ = 4 ± 0.4 μΩ cm for the films with the thickness of 35-100 nm. This value of ρ is several times smaller than those reported in literature for sub-100 nm Cu films deposited by electroless on different SAMs. It is speculated that nano-scale porosity and corrugated structure observed by HRTEM and AFM in the ELD Cu films contribute to the resistivity. The obtained results demonstrate a viable route for formation of low resistivity, sub-100 nm Cu films on dielectrics for microelectronic application.     

Preparation of polyaniline/phosphorylated poly(vinyl alcohol) nanoparticles and their aqueous redispersion stability

A novel approach for the preparation of the colloidal conducting polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles was developed. The polyaniline/partially phosphorylated poly(vinyl alcohol)(PANI/P‐PVA) nanoparticles were prepared by the chemical oxidative dispersion polymerization of aniline monomer in 1.0 M HCl aqueous media with the partially phosphorylated poly(vinyl alcohol) (P‐PVA) as the stabilizer and codopant. The PANI/P‐PVA nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), electrical conductivity measurement, and redispersion stability testing. All the results were compared with the properties of the conventional polyaniline in the emeraldine salt form (PANI ES). It was found that the P‐PVA/aniline feeding ratio obviously affected the morphology, redispersion stability and electrical conductivity of the PANI/P‐PVA nanoparticles. When the P‐PVA/aniline feeding ratio ranged from 50 to 60 wt %, the PANI/P‐PVA nanoparticles showed spherical shape with good uniformity, significant redispersion stability in aqueous media, and good electrical conductivity up to 7 S/cm. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

Preparation of conducting polyacrylonitrile/polypyrrole composite films by electrochemical synthesis and their electrical properties

Electrically conducting polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/polypyrrole (PPy) composite films were prepared by electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole in an insulating PAN matrix under various polymerization conditions and their electrical properties were studied. The conductivities of PAN/PPy composite films peeled off from the platinum electrode he lie in the range of 10^?2–10^?3 s/cm, depending on the preparation conditions: The conductivity increased with the concentrations of the electrolyte and the monomer, but it decreased with the polymerization temperature of pyrrole and the applied potential.     

Interfacial polymerization of polyaniline and its layer‐by‐layer assembly into polyelectrolytes multilayer thin‐films

The layer‐by‐layer (LbL) self assembly deposition technique was used to prepare multilayer thin films of anionic polyaniline‐blend‐poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PANI‐PSS) and cationic poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). Anionic polyaniline was prepared by the interfacial polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of PSS which acted as template to provide water solubility. The PSS to PANI concentration ratios used in the synthesis step was found to have a major effect on the final PANI‐PSS synthesis, its self assembly and the electrical properties of the prepared films. The optical and electrical properties of the films were measured by ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐Vis) and a 4‐point probe setup, respectively while the thickness of the films was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results showed that the optimum condition for the film growth and optimal conductivity were obtained with different synthesis conditions. These results suggest that the PSS concentration used for interfacial synthesis of PANI must be finely tuned depending on the type of application aimed by the user. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013