Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of electrospun biocompatible Poly (ε- caprolactone) and Polyaniline nanofiber composite electrode materials for various biosensing applications

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds have attracted extensive attention in biosensor applications. Typical structures were made using low molecular weight (Mw ∼ 10,000) Polycaprolactone (PCL) along with Polyaniline (Emeraldine salt) via the fiber production technique of electrospinning. The PCL/PANI nanocomposites were optimised at 14 wt% and 15 wt% for quality electrospinning conditions.The functional group’s identification, structural and morphological analyses and electrochemical studies of the nanocomposites were performed. The specific capacitance values Csp = 16.54F/kg (14 wt%) and 5.26F/kg (15 wt%) were calculated. The Cyclic voltammetric and Impedance spectroscopic studies along with a newly designed equivalent circuit, indicate the sensitive and fast responses of the PCL/PANI nanocomposite material, with unique porous structures developed within the material, provide a potential opportunity to develop into a sensitive sensor electrode material.