Abstract
Nanostructured systems, such as nanocomposites, are potential materials for usage in different fields since synergistic effects of their components at the nanoscale domain may improve physical/chemical properties when compared to individual phases. We report here the preparation and characterisation of a new nanocomposite composed of polyaniline (PANI), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and hexaniobate (hexNb) nanoscrolls. Atomic force microscopy images show an interesting architecture of rGO flakes coated with PANI and decorated by hexNb. Such features are attributed to the high stability of the rGO flakes prepared at room temperature. Detailed characterisation by X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies indicates an intermediate reduction degree for the rGO component and high doping degree of the PANI chains compared to the neat polymer. The latter feature can be attributed to cooperative effects of PANI chains with rGO flakes and hexNb nanoscrolls, which promote conformational changes of the polymer backbone (secondary doping). Spectroscopic and electrochemistry data indicate a synergetic effect on the ternary nanocomposite, which is attributed to interactions between the components resulting from the morphological aspects. Therefore, the new nanocomposite presents promising properties for development of new materials in the film form on substrates for sensing or corrosion protection for example.
Highlights
Nanostructured systems, such as nanocomposites, are potential materials for usage as electrochemicalsensors for analytical purposes, electronics, energy storage devices and corrosion protection because the synergistic effects of their components at the nanoscale range may improve physical/chemical properties when compared to individual phases or enable new technological applications [1,2,3]
Graphene oxide (GO) reduction at high temperatures results in the aggregation of the material due to restacking of the hydrophobic reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layers [34,35]. This is a drawback in the preparation of rGO nanocomposites because phase segregation and/or composition heterogeneity will occur in the final materials
It is well known that high reaction temperatures are important for the degree of reduction of the resulting rGO, samples prepared at room temperature (25 °C) using longer reaction times (7 days) may present satisfactory properties for nanocomposites
Summary
Nanostructured systems, such as nanocomposites, are potential materials for usage as electrochemical (bio)sensors for analytical purposes, electronics, energy storage devices and corrosion protection because the synergistic effects of their components at the nanoscale range may improve physical/chemical properties when compared to individual phases or enable new technological applications [1,2,3]. These results clearly indicate that the surface heterogeneity of the ternary nanocomposite is even higher than that of rGO/PANI, probably due to the presence of hexaniobate nanoparticles (nanoscrolls) on the rGO/PANI flakes.
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