Synergy between the Assembly of Individual PEDOT Chains and Their Interaction with Light

Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Polyaniline-Boron Doped Diamond Electrode for Supercapacitor Applications

Understanding how to tune the properties of electroactive materials is a key parameter for their applications in energy storage systems. This work presents a comprehensive study in tailoring polyaniline (PANI) suspensions by acid-assisted polymerization method and their subsequent deposition on boron-doped diamond (BDD) supports with low/high B concentrations. The porous or densely packed morphology of PANI is successfully controlled by varying the monomer-to-initiator ratio. The interaction between PANI and BDDs leads to the shift in oxidation and reduction potentials, and the high B doping resulted in the reduction of the oxidation potentials. Notably, the highest specific capacitance of 958 F g-1, which represents 90% of the theoretical capacitance, is recorded for the support with relatively low B content. Moreover, PANI obtained by slow kinetic has a stronger interaction with the B-doped diamond support, which is confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing PANI suspension preparation methods and selecting appropriate boron doping concentrations in nanodiamond supports for composite electrodes in energy storage applications.

Influence of the Nature and Structure of Polyelectrolyte Cryogels on the Polymerization of (3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Composites

Conductive hydrogels are polymeric materials that are promising for bioelectronic applications. In the present study, a complex based on sulfonic cryogels and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was investigated as an example of a conductive hydrogel. Preparation of polyacrylate cryogels of various morphologies was carried out by cryotropic gelation of 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate and sulfobetaine methacrylate in the presence of functional comonomers (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate). Polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene in the presence of several of the above cryogels occurred throughout the entire volume of each polyelectrolyte cryogel because of its porous structure. Structural features of cryogel@PEDOT complexes in relation to their electrochemical properties were investigated. It was shown that poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) of a linear conformation was formed in the presence of a cryogel based on sulfobetaine methacrylate, while minimum values of charge-transfer resistance were observed in those complexes, and electrochemical properties of the complexes did not depend on diffusion processes.

Preparation of Smart Surfaces Based on PNaSS@PEDOT Microspheres: Testing of E. coli Detection

The main task of the research is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the effect of polymer structure on the physicochemical properties of films. A novel meta-material that can be used in manufacturing sensor layers was developed as a model. At the first stage, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PNaSS) cross-linked microspheres are synthesized (which are based on strong polyelectrolytes containing sulfo groups in each monomer unit), and at the second stage, PNaSS@PEDOT microspheres are formed. The poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) shell was obtained by the acid-assisted self-polymerization of the monomer; this process is biologically safe and thus suitable for biomedical applications. The suitability of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for E. coli detection was tested; it was revealed that the attached bacterial wall was destroyed upon application of constant oxidation potential (higher than 0.5 V), which makes the PNaSS@PEDOT microsphere particles promising materials for the development of antifouling coatings. Furthermore, under open-circuit conditions, the walls of E. coli bacteria were not destroyed, which opens up the possibility of employing such meta-materials as sensor films. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction methods were applied in order to characterize the PNaSS@PEDOT films.