Diphenylmethane-based cross-linked polyisocyanide: synthesis and application as nitrite electrochemical probe and N-doped carbon precursor

Abstract

With 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane as the starting material, a compound (M1) containing two functional isocyanide groups was successfully prepared via Hofmann method, and a polyisocyanide derivative (P1), with a cross-linked structure, was successfully prepared via Ni2+-catalyzed polymerization. Electrochemical detection of nitrite was achieved by utilizing P1-modified glassy carbon electrode as the working electrode, and the corresponding detection limit reached ~ 0.51 μM (3σ/k). Subsequently, nitrogen-doped porous carbon material (P1-C) was obtained by direct carbonization of P1. The preliminary study of its electrochemical performance was carried out. Specific capacitance of P1-C reached 152.5 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, and high capacitance retention of 94.4% was recorded after 1000 galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles (at 1 A g−1), indicating that P1-C can act as potential energy storage electrode material.