Polymerization of aniline using a peroxidase-mimetic catalyst

Abstract

Enzyme polymerization is a benign process exploiting the unique activity of enzymes. In this study, a peroxidase-mimetic catalyst is demonstrated as an alternative to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for the polymerization of aniline. The mimetic catalyst successfully catalyzes the polymerization of aniline monomers to produce polyaniline (PANI) in an aqueous solution. The PANI produced is rich of para-structure that is generally observed when HRP is used as a catalyst. Compared to HRP, the peroxidase-mimetic catalyst shows a considerably higher catalytic activity at neutral and weak basic conditions (pH >6.5) and at temperatures over 45°C, at which HRP is denatured.