The ageing of polypyrrole nanotubes synthesized with methyl orange

Bioinspired Asymmetric Polypyrrole Membranes with Enhanced Photothermal Conversion for Highly Efficient Solar Evaporation

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has attracted great attention by offering a zero-carbon-emission solution for clean water production. The manipulation of the surface structure of the evaporator markedly promotes the enhancement of light capture and the improvement of evaporation performance. Herein, inspired by seedless lotus pod, a flexible pristine polypyrrole (PPy) membrane with macro/micro-bubble and nanotube asymmetric structure is fabricated through template-assisted interfacial polymerization. The macro- and micro-hierarchical structure of the open bubbles enable multiple reflections inner and among the bubble cavities for enhanced light trapping and omnidirectional photothermal conversion. In addition, the multilevel structure (macro/micro/nano) of the asymmetric PPy (PPy-A) membrane induces water evaporation in the form of clusters, leading to a reduction of water evaporation enthalpy. The PPy-A membranes achieve a full-spectrum light absorption of 96.3% and high evaporation rate of 2.03 kg m-2  h-1 under 1 sun. Long-term stable desalination is also verified with PPy-A membranes by applying one-way water channel. This study demonstrates the feasibility of pristine PPy membranes in SDIE applications, providing guidelines for modulation of the evaporator topologies toward high-efficient solar evaporation.

Flexible, ultrathin and light films from one-dimensional nanostructures of polypyrrole and cellulose nanofibers for high performance electromagnetic interference shielding

Combining highly conducting one-dimensional nanostructures of polypyrrole with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) into flexible films with tailored electrical conductivity and mechanical properties presents a promising route towards the development of eco-friendly electromagnetic interference shielding devices. Herein, conducting films with a thickness of 140 μm were synthesized from polypyrrole nanotubes (PPy-NT) and CNF using two approaches, i.e., a new one-pot synthesis consisting of in situ polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of structure guiding agent and CNF, and a two-step synthesis, in which CNF and PPy-NT were physically blended. Films based on one-pot synthesis (PPy-NT/CNF_in) exhibited higher conductivity than those processed by physical blending, which was further enhanced up to 14.51 S cm^-1 after redoping using HCl post-treatment. PPy-NT/CNF_in containing the lowest PPy-NT loading (40 wt%), thus the lowest conductivity (5.1 S cm^-1), displayed the highest shielding effectiveness of -23.6 dB (>90 % attenuation), thanks to the good balance between its mechanical properties and electrical conductivity.

Al/SnO2 Nanothermite ESD Desensitization by Means of the Elaboration of Tailored SnO2-Polypyrrole Composites

Incidents can occur when handling energetic materials (EMs) due to their sensitivity to external stimuli. Mechanical (friction, impact) and electrical (electrostatic discharge (ESD)) stimuli can trigger involuntary ignition of EMs. Nanothermites, defined as highly reactive mixtures of a metal and a metal oxide, show interesting reactive properties (high temperature/amount of heat). However, their extreme sensitivity to ESD is a significant drawback in their development. With a sensitivity threshold of lower than a millijoule and considering the human body capacity discharge is a few tens of millijoules, the handling of such energetic mixtures is extremely hazardous. ESD desensitization is therefore of crucial importance for the use of these materials. To achieve this goal, polypyrrole (PPy) conductive polymer was used as an additive within an Al/SnO2 energetic formulation. This polymer is able to easily conduct the electrostatic charges, which is useful to avoid an ignition after a spark stimulus. PPy was added to the nanothermite through the elaboration of SnO2-PPy composites. Delaying the SnO2 introduction time during pyrrole's polymerization (t = 0, 1, 24 h) changed the microstructures of the composites. The various SnO2-PPy composites highlighted that the additive's distribution within the composite is a key component for the modulation of ESD sensitivity. For example, this threshold is higher for a nanothermite formulated with the composite elaborated at t = 0 h (96.5 mJ with 7.5 vol % of polymer) than a composition based on the composite at t = 24 h (16.9 mJ with 8.2 vol % of polymer). Meanwhile, the reactive properties are decreased. The loss of reactivity (e.g. combustion speed) was explained by the thermal insulating property of the additive. Overall, the aim of this study is to help in the understanding of ESD desensitization of nanothermites in order to make them safer for operators and adapted to the required applications.

Polypyrrole Nanomaterials: Structure, Preparation and Application

In the past decade, nanostructured polypyrrole (PPy) has been widely studied because of its many specific properties, which have obvious advantages over bulk-structured PPy. This review outlines the main structures, preparation methods, physicochemical properties, potential applications, and future prospects of PPy nanomaterials. The preparation approaches include the soft micellar template method, hard physical template method and templateless method. Due to their excellent electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, environmental stability and reversible redox properties, PPy nanomaterials have potential applications in the fields of energy storage, biomedicine, sensors, adsorption and impurity removal, electromagnetic shielding, and corrosion resistant. Finally, the current difficulties and future opportunities in this research area are discussed.

Photodegradation of Congo Red by Modified P25-Titanium Dioxide with Cobalt-Carbon Supported on SiO2 Matrix, DFT Studies of Chemical Reactivity

Congo red is a hazardous material in the environment. The present work describes the synthesis of TiO2/CoC@SiO2-bipy (1) and TiO2/CoC@SiO2-phen (2) nanocomposites for the photodegradation of azo-dye Congo red (CR) dye in aqueous solution, by combining pure TiO2 with CoC@SiO2-bipy (s1) and CoC@SiO2-phen (s2) nanoparticles. The prepared nanocomposites were evaluated in term of photocatalytic activity rates in aqueous solution using CR. The nanocomposites TiO2/CoC@SiO2-bipy (1) and TiO2/CoC@SiO2-phen (2) were prepared from TiO2 (75%) and CoC@SiO2-bipy (s1) or CoC@SiO2-phen (s2) (25%) (weight ratio). Ultra-sonication and milling were used to prepare the heterogeneous nano catalysts. The pH, initial dye concentration, and catalyst dosage appeared to have a significant impact on the photocatalytic degradation performance. Molecular oxygen and other active species played a significant role in the photocatalyst degradation of CR with sunlight energy (UV-index 5.0). The chemical reactions were accelerated depending upon electrophilicity (ω) and energy gap (Eg) of azo dye species CR-N=N, CR-N=NH and CR=N-NH species which were calculated by density function theory (DFT). It can be concluded that the rate of electron–hole recombination of the TiO2 catalyst, when adding CoC@SiO2-bipy (s1) or CoC@SiO2-phen (s2), not only enhances the degradation but also effectively removes toxic dye molecules and their by-products. The newly prepared TiO2/CoC@SiO2-bipy (1) nanocomposites showed increased photocatalytic efficiency at low catalyst dose and faster rate of degradation of Congo red compared to TiO2/CoC@SiO2-phen (2) and TiO2 catalysts. The novel catalysts (1) and (2) can be easily separated by centrifugation and filtration, from the reaction mixture compared to TiO2.

Photocatalytic degradation of Congo Red under UV irradiation by zero valent iron nano particles (nZVI) synthesized using Shorea robusta (Sal) leaf extract

In the present study, photo catalytic degradation of azo dye Congo Red was conducted using Fe nano particles (nZVI) in the presence of UV light. nZVI was biosynthesized using FeSO₄.7H₂O precursor and leaf extract of Shorea robusta (sal) as reducing agent under optimum condition of 1 mM concentration of precursor and a ratio of 1:1 Sal leaf extract to precursor. TEM and AFM images revealed formation of well dispersed spherical nano particles of 54-80 nm. SAED patterns of nZVI particles indicated its crystalline nature, while EDX result showed the presence of iron as the most abundant element. In batch experiments, optimum degradation of CR was 96% at 220 ppm CR with a dose of 1.2 g/L nZVI at pH 4 in 15 min following pseudo second order kinetics. The study suggested nZVI to be a potentially economic and ecofriendly technique for treatment of Congo Red.

One-Dimensional Nanostructures of Polypyrrole for Shielding of Electromagnetic Interference in the Microwave Region

Polypyrrole one-dimensional nanostructures (nanotubes, nanobelts and nanofibers) were prepared using three various dyes (Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Eriochrome Black T). Their high electrical conductivity (from 17.1 to 60.9 S cm-1), good thermal stability (in the range from 25 to 150 °C) and resistivity against ageing (half-time of electrical conductivity around 80 days and better) were used in preparation of lightweight and flexible composites with silicone for electromagnetic interference shielding in the C-band region (5.85-8.2 GHz). The nanostructures' morphology and chemical structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface measurement and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. DC electrical conductivity was measured using the Van der Pauw method. Complex permittivity and AC electrical conductivity of respective silicone composites were calculated from the measured scattering parameters. The relationships between structure, electrical properties and shielding efficiency were studied. It was found that 2 mm-thick silicone composites of polypyrrole nanotubes and nanobelts shield almost 80% of incident radiation in the C-band at very low loading of conductive filler in the silicone (5% w/w). Resulting lightweight and flexible polypyrrole composites exhibit promising properties for shielding of electromagnetic interference in sensitive biological and electronic systems.

Role of p-Benzoquinone in the Synthesis of a Conducting Polymer, Polyaniline

Polyaniline (PANI) and 2,5-dianilino-p-benzoquinone both are formed by oxidation of aniline in an acidic aqueous environment. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of addition of p-benzoquinone on the structure of PANI prepared by the oxidation of aniline hydrochloride with ammonium peroxydisulfate and to elucidate the formation of low-molecular-weight byproducts. An increasing yield and size-exclusion chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the products show that p-benzoquinone does not act as a terminating agent in the synthesis of PANI and the content of 2,5-dianilino-p-benzoquinone increases with the increasing molar concentration of p-benzoquinone in the reaction mixture, [BzQ]. Regarding the structure of PANI, Raman and UV-visible spectra show that the doping level and the charge delocalization both decrease with the increase of [BzQ], and the FTIR spectra of the PANI bases indicate an increased concentration of benzenoid units at higher [BzQ]. We explain these observations by an increasing concentration of structural defects in PANI chains and propose a 2,5-dianilino-p-benzoquinone-like structure of these defects present as pendant groups. The bands typical of 2,5-dianilino-p-benzoquinone-like moiety are observed even in the vibrational spectra of the sample prepared without addition of p-benzoquinone. This confirms in situ oxidation of aniline to p-benzoquinone within the course of the oxidation of aniline hydrochloride to PANI.

Dye-stimulated control of conducting polypyrrole morphology

Three azo dyes bearing hydrophilic functional groups at different positions on a hydrophobic naphthylphenyldiazene skeleton were used as structure-guiding agents in the synthesis of highly organised supramolecular structures of PPy in aqueous media.