Electrochemical Analysis of Phthalocyanine Grafted Polymer Nanofibers

Abstract

Nanofibers possess exclusive physical, chemical, and electronic properties. Although different methods are known [1-2], electrospinning has been used with an increasing impact because of the ease of proceeding and the use of a wide range of polymeric materials [3–4] in the production of nanofibers. Metal free phthalocyanine grafted polypyrrole and cobalt metallated phthalocyanine grafted polypyrrole nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning method. The electrospun PPy and phthalocyanine grafted polypyrrole fibers were coated on indium tin oxide electrode surface for a proper investigation of the electrochemical activity of the fibers. Different methods were used to characterize the obtained fibers. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope and polarized optical microscope were used for their morphological characterization, while electrical behaviors of the nanofibers were characterized by direct current and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements.[1] Feng L, Li S, Li H, Zhai J, Song Y, Jiang L. Super-Hydrophobic Surface of Aligned Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers. Angew Chem Int Ed 2002;41:1221–1223.[2] Ma PX, Zhang R. Synthetic nano-scale fibrous extracellular matrix. J Biomed Mat Res 1999;46:60–72.[3] Menon VP, Lei J, Martin CR. Membrane-Based Synthesis of Nanomaterials. Chem Mater 1996; 8: 2382-86.[4] Joo J, Park KT, Kim BH, Kim MS, Lee SY, Jeong CK, Lee JK, Park DH, Yi WK, Lee SH, Ryu KS. Conducting Polymer Nanotube and Nanowire Synthesized by Using Nanoporous Template: Synthesis, Characteristics, and Applications. Synth Met 2003;135:7-13.