In situ Chemical Polymerization of Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites: Effect of DNA-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes and Nitrogen-Doped Graphene as Catalytic Molecular Templates

Publication date: Available online 19 February 2020Source: Chemical Engineering JournalAuthor(s): Yalda Zamani Keteklahijani, Ali Shayesteh Zeraati, Farbod Sharif, Edward P.L. Roberts, Uttandaraman SundararajAbstractThis work is part of our ongoing studies on developing conducting polymer nanocomposites for detection of neurotransmitter dopamine that reports synthesis of a highly conductive, self-doped nanocomposite of polyaniline. Nanocomposites of poly (anilineboronic acid) (PABA) were fabricated through in situ chemical polymerization of 3-aminophenylboronic acid monomers in the presence and absence of different carbonaceous materials such as DNA-functionalized carbon nanotubes (DNA_CNT), nitrogen-doped graphene (NEG) and a hybrid structure of DNA-functionalized carbon nanostructures (DNA_CNT_NEG). Among the used templates, DNA_CNT_NEG acted as the best anchoring molecular template during polymerization which increased the stability of the respective polymer nanocomposites after polymerization. This stability improvement was attributed to the formation of conductive state of polyaniline (emeraldine salt). The good pre-dispersion state of DNA_CNT_NEG in monomer solution increased the effective molecular interactions at the interfacial layer of nanofillers and monomers. This resulted in fabrication of highly-ordered and polyconjugated structure of PABA nanocomposites with superior electrical conductivity (14300S m-1 at 3.0 wt.% filler content) compared to pure PABA (4×10-9S...
Source: Chemical Engineering Journal - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research