Preparation and properties of novel sol-gel-derived quaternized poly(n-methyl pyrrole)/Sn(II)SiO3/CNT composites

Abstract

A new class novel poly(n-methyl pyrrole)/nano-Sn(II)SiO3/CNT composite was synthesized using a sol-gel method. The sol of poly(n-methyl pyrrole) (PNMPy) was synthesized into the gel of Sn(II)SiO3 by ranging the mixing volume ratio concentration of inorganic reactant with the fixed mixing volume ratio, i.e., 1:1, of organic polymer followed by intercalating CNTs. The physicochemical characterization was carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and by XRD, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–Vis, and simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) studies. Ion-exchange capacity, distribution studies were also carried out to understand the ion-exchange capabilities. Due to the presence of conducting polymer and functionalized carbon nanotubes (FCNTs), the dc electrical conductivity studies reveal it in highly semiconducting nature in the range of 2.5 × 10−3–4.3 × 10−3 S/cm. On the basis of distribution studies, it was found to be good selective for Cd2+, which is an important environmental pollutant. Due to the selective nature of the composite, an ion-selective membrane electrode was designed for the determination of Cd(ІІ) ions in solutions. The analytical utility of this membrane was established by employing it as an indicator electrode in electrometric titrations.