Conducting Polymer Polyaniline Research Articles

WO3 Nanoparticle/Biomass Derived N‐Doped Activated Carbon Decorated with Polyaniline Nanofibers Ternary Nanocomposite for High‐Performance Symmetric and Asymmetric Supercapacitor

AbstractSupercapacitors have captured the curiosity of researchers due to their extremely high energy storage capacity. Hybrid supercapacitors deliver high specific capacitance values compared to the exciting (electrical double layer capacitor) EDLC and pseudocapacitors. This work presents a simple and scalable synthetic method to design a hybrid ternary composite as electrode material. In this work, the combination of EDLC‐type behaviour material, i. e., sustainable biomass‐derived Nitrogen‐doped activated carbon (NAC) and pseudocapacitive behaviour electrode materials, i. e., metal oxides (tungsten oxide) and conductive polymer (polyaniline) are selected to achieve a high gravimetric capacity. The PANi/WO3/NAC (PWNAC) ternary composite is tested for symmetric and asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC). In a symmetric capacitor, PWNAC acts as both the positive and negative electrode, whereas in ASC, PWNAC acts as the positive electrode and NAC as the negative electrode. It is observed that the ASC shows a better capacitance value than symmetric. ASC operates at a potential range of 1.4 V in 1 M H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte, shows a maximum capacitance of 608.2 F/g at 0.5 A/g, and has long capacitance retention of 98.32 % of its initial capacitance after 2000 charge‐discharge cycles.

An environmentally sustainable ultrasonic-assisted exfoliation approach to graphene and its Nanocompositing with polyaniline for supercapacitor applications

In the present work, a green high-yielding method for the preparation of graphene is introduced via ultrasonic-assisted liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) of graphite in a green solvent medium, since the common preparation method of graphene via graphite oxide is hazardous. A high concentration of 3.2 mg/ml graphene is achieved here in a comparatively short duration of 3 h ultrasonication. By using a mixed solvents strategy (acetophenone and isopropyl alcohol, 1:19 V/V), surface energy requirements needed for the exfoliation of graphite are satisfied here with acetophenone, where isopropyl alcohol further facilitated the exfoliation via non-conventional CH-π and OH-π interactions. Turbostratic graphene in high-yield (16 %) in a simple means of ultrasonic assisted LPE is the added attraction of the present procedure. The less-defective structure of graphene, its few-layered turbostratic nature, and edge functionalization of the sheets are evident from the material characterization via Raman spectroscopy, XRD, TEM-SAED, and XPS analyses. Here, we report a combination of the attractive conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) with the as-prepared graphene for supercapacitor applications, where the PANI/graphene nanocomposites with different aniline concentrations (PANI1.125/G, PANI4.5/G, and PANI9/G) have been prepared via in-situ polymerization of aniline in the graphene dispersion. The structure and morphology of the nanocomposites are investigated using different characterization techniques which revealed that the molecular structure of the PANI is retained in the nanocomposites even with a strong interaction with graphene. FESEM and TEM images revealed the good coverage of graphene sheets with PANI that limit the volume change of PANI during the repeated charge discharge processes. Electrochemical studies showed that PANI4.5/G has the highest specific capacitance of 126.16 mF/cm2 at a current density of 1 mA/cm2, resulting from the perfect combination of the pseudocapacitance behavior of the PANI along with the electrical double layer capacitance of graphene. A symmetric supercapacitor device is also fabricated with PANI4.5/G, which showed the highest areal capacitance of 116.38 mF/cm2 similar to that with three-electrode studies and also good cycling stability with 87 % capacitance retention in the specific capacitance after 6000 cycles. It also exhibited the highest energy density of 16 µWh/cm2 (0.29 Wh/kg) and power density of 3.99 mW/cm2 (72.72 W/kg).

Synthesis and Characterization of Polyaniline/CuO Nanocomposites with Various Temperature

Polyaniline (PANI) metal oxide composites are known for their high electrical conductivity, environmental stability, and enhanced mechanical strength, making them valuable in applications such as sensors, batteries, and electromagnetic shielding. This study focuses on synthesizing and characterizing PANI/CuO nanocomposites to examine their structural, morphological, and functional properties at different synthesis temperatures. By integrating the conductive polymer PANI with copper oxide (CuO), a p-type semiconductor with a narrow band gap, the material’s capabilities are significantly enhanced. The oxidative polymerization of aniline, the process by which PANI is formed, requires precise control of oxidizing agents and reaction conditions, as these factors directly affect the polymerization, conductivity, and overall properties of the resulting nanocomposite. The PANI/CuO nanocomposites were synthesized at three different temperatures: 10℃, 25℃, and 50℃, to determine how temperature affects their characteristics. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed to analyze these nanocomposites. FTIR results revealed shifts in the quinoid and benzenoid rings, indicating hydrogen bonding between the NH group of PANI and the CuO surface, which accelerates charge transfer. The SEM analysis showed that while pure PANI exhibits a uniform globular morphology, the PANI/CuO nanocomposites display a nanorod morphology. These morphological differences impact the surface area and electrical conductivity of the composites, highlighting the significance of temperature in tailoring the material's properties for specific applications.

Metal-Organic Framework-Based Materials for Heavy Metal Sensing in Aqueous Media

Industrial development leads to an increasing amount of pollutants including heavy metal ions in surface and subsurface waters. For instance, wastewater from battery manufacturing, paint manufacturing or metal plating, contain heavy metals in high concentrations. The heavy metals are typically non-biodegradable and not-easy to excrete. Their presence within the organisms causes damage and failure of different organs. Consequently, the permissible concentrations of heavy metal ions in drinking water set by the World Health Organization are on a ppb level.In this work, electrode materials based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are prepared and studied for sensing of heavy metals in aqueous media. These involved MOFs in their pristine form, composites of pristine MOFs and conducting polymer polyaniline as well as their carbonized derivatives. Cadmium and lead ions were used as model pollutants. Thorough physico-chemical characterization of the prepared materials was done using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Electroanalytical performance was scrutinized using anodic stripping voltammetry and correlated with materials’ structural, morphology and textural properties. Limits of detection and sensitivity were determined upon optimization of the experimental conditions to identify the best material. Moreover, materials proved to be suitable for two heavy metal ions sensing in real river samples. Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, grant number 7750219, Advanced Conducting Polymer-Based Materials for Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, Sensors and Environmental Protection-AdConPolyMat (IDEAS programme).

Fibrin Clot Degradation by Polyaniline-Coated AuNP Using Laser Photolysis

Fibrin clots are crucial for hemostasis and the healing of wounds; nevertheless, excessive blood clotting plays an important role in many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. In this study, we demonstrated the effect of the prepared AuNPs@PANI core/shell on the formed fibrin network. The synthesis of nanoparticles combining electrically conducting polymers polyaniline (PANI) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is an appealing field of research currently because of their physical features and prospective applications in biochemistry. AuNPs showed surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) properties in the visible region at 520 nm then, after coating with PANI, there was a dramatic red shift to 610 nm. The morphological conformation was confirmed by characterization at the microscopic (TEM, SEM, EDX). The PANI shell plays a crucial role in this system, first enhances the stability of AuNPs core; also, the surface of the PANI shell has positive charges (zeta potential = +17.8 mV), leading to electrostatic interactions with fibrin clots that have negatively charged surfaces. The synthesized core/shell AuNPs@PANI showed good efficiency for degrading fibrin networks under 1:30 h of irradiation by an external source of laser light, which is a result of AuNPs’ ability to absorb light at 520 nm. The degradation of fibrin was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), which showed a clear change in the shape of the network. The appearance of fibrous endings and gaping indicates the beginning of the degradation and melting of the fibrin network in different sites of the clot. Overall, this method could have a major influence on disease states, for example, deep vein thrombosis, through a localized, catheter-based approach.

Water-flow driven activation flexible PANI/β-PVDF piezoelectric spheres with enhanced piezoelectric properties for efficient degradation of organic pollutants

The conductive polymer polyaniline was introduced into poly(vinylidene fluoride) to improve its piezoelectric β phase content and conductivity, and a novel polyaniline/β-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PANI/β-PVDF) piezoelectric spheres was prepared successfully for the water-flow driven piezocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin. PANI/β-PVDF piezoelectric spheres showed excellent piezocatalytic performance, and the degradation efficiency of levofloxacin reached 98.1 % within 30 min. It was worthing note that the EE/O value of the water-flow driven piezocatalytic system was only 6.57 % of that of the ultrasonic driven system. Based on the frontier orbital theory and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the possible piezocatalytic degradation pathways of levofloxacin were deduced. The results of toxicity migration evaluation during reaction showed that the acute toxicity and developmental toxicity of levofloxacin were significantly reduced. The piezocatalytic degradation of levofloxacin by PANI/β-PVDF piezoelectric spheres is triggered by the water-flow, which provides a new idea for the sustainable development of high efficiency and low consumption treatment of antibiotic wastewater.

NiO@PANI based Nanocomposites as an Advanced Functional Material: Experimental and Computational Approach

Background:: Individually, metal nanoparticles (NPs) and conducting polymers show unique properties due to small size, large surface area, and high order of conductivity. But their combination may result in a synergistic effect in properties. Methods:: The NiO NPs and conducting polymer Polyaniline were prepared by modified Sol-gel and chemical oxidative methods, respectively. Powder XRD, FTIR, TEM, and UV-visible methods were used for the structural evaluation. The computational (DFT) study was performed to support experimental results. The NiO/Polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites (NCs) were explored as corrosion inhibitors, electrical conductors, and photocatalytic agents. Results:: The NiO/Polyaniline NCs showed 91.52% corrosion inhibition efficiency at 1000 ppm concentration. The photocatalytic activity was investigated against methylene blue dye under ultraviolet light. The NiO/Polyaniline NCs decompose 90% of organic dye. The NCs exhibit good conducting, corrosion inhibition, and photocatalytic activity. Conclusion:: The metal oxide (NiO NPs) and PANI-based NCs can be used as corrosion inhibitors, conducting material, and for the degradation of organic compounds (dyes) in impure water.

The influence of anions in the ionic liquid-water mixtures on the conformational structures of emeraldine base and emeraldine salt form of polyaniline

The development of antifouling membranes for water filtration applications is challenging. Conducting polymers can show enhanced antifouling characteristics by blending with various polymers, nanomaterials, and Ionic liquids (ILs). In this paper, we perform an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation on a conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) immersed in IL-water mixtures. Two forms of PANI were considered, namely Emeraldine base (EB) and Emeraldine salt (ES) as well as two different water-mixed ILs are considered namely (a) 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium [EMIM]+ hexafluorophosphate [PF6]- and (b) 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium [EMIM]+ tetra-fluoroborate [BF4]-. We present various intra- and inter-molecular structural properties, solvation thermodynamics, and dynamic properties. We observe that with an increase in IL concentration, the radius of gyration (Rg) value shows a decrease for ES in pure state in both ILs; on the other hand, we see a minimal increase in the Rg values of EB in both ILs. The dihedral angle distribution analysis shows a combination of gauche and trans state for ES, whereas trans state is more pronounced for the case of EB in both water-IL mixtures. The radial distribution function (RDF) analysis between the ortho, meta carbons of the benzene rings, and the amine groups on ES with [BF4]- and [PF6]- show significant structural peaks. On the other hand, EB and ES show lower interaction with the water molecules. The number of hydrogen bonds (h-bonds) between polymer and water is higher for EB than ES in both IL-water mixtures. The hydrogen bond lifetime (τ) values show one-fold higher values for EB than ES. The self-diffusion coefficient (D) values of water show a decrease with an increase in IL concentration. The thermodynamic properties solvation enthalpy (ΔH) and excess molar volume (VmE) for both ES and EB show a more favorable solvation in [EMIM]+[BF4]- when compared to [EMIM]+[PF6]- with an increase in IL concentration. These observations are crucial for selecting ILs and designing sustainable polymers for antifouling membranes.

Optimizing Conductive Polymer Bulk Structure: Influence of Polymerization Temperature on Photocatalytic Performance for Sustainable Hydrogen Production

The influence of the polymerization temperature upon the bulk‐structure‐doped conductive polymer polyaniline (emeraldine‐salt, PANI) on the semiconducting, optical, and electrical properties of the photocatalyst is investigated. When the B‐PANI polymerization temperature increases from 5 to 60 °C, the crystallinity and conductivity of Pt/N‐TiO2/B‐PANI (PNT/B‐PANI) decreases. To rectify the problems of recycling convenience and secondary pollution, this study combines a photocatalyst and a porous polystyrene film for sustainable hydrogen production. The photocatalytic performance of the polystyrene/PNT/B‐PANI‐5 (PS/PNT/B‐PANI‐5) photocatalyst film (27 047 μmol h−1 g−1) under simulated sunlight irradiation is enhanced by a factor of up to 1.6 compared to that of PS/PNT. Therefore, the PS/PNT/B‐PANI photocatalyst film is a visible‐light photocatalyst which is a promising candidate for enhancing photocatalytic recycling convenience.

Preparation and performance of a bamboo-based electromagnetic wave absorber by interfacial polymerization of graphene oxide/polyaniline

Excellent electromagnetic wave absorption ability and effective absorption bandwidth have been the development direction of electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. In this paper, a rational structural design is proposed. Graphene oxide (GO)/polyaniline (PANI) layer was formed on the surface of the natural material bamboo powder (BP) by an interfacial polymerization process. The combination of GO and PANI improves the impedance mismatch of the conductive polymer PANI. Enhanced dielectric storage and loss capability of the composite GO/PANI/BP. The addition of BP brings more electromagnetic wave loss channels to the composite GO/PANI/BP. This unique structure facilitates the construction of a three-dimensional electromagnetic wave-reflecting cavity, which improves the absorptive capacity of the composite by introducing effective multiple reflections. The conductivity of GO/PANI/BP was 1.78 (±0.06) S/cm. When filled to 30 wt%, a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −44 dB at 9.36 GHz and a thickness of 3 mm, and an effective absorption bandwidth (<-10 dB) of up to 5.36 GHz in the frequency range 12.64–18 GHz and at a thickness of 2 mm. Exhibits superior loss capability compared to most previous PANI-based electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. In addition, the design structure of this three-dimensional electromagnetic wave reflecting cavity can provide inspiration for the design of other electromagnetic wave absorbing materials and expands the candidate range of green and efficient electromagnetic wave absorbers.

NiCo-MOF composed of small fragments were multi-dimensional reinforced with conductive polyaniline for high performance supercapacitors

Herein, polyaniline (PANI) was cleverly assembled on the surface of a novel NiCo-MOF (NCM) to fabricate of NiCo-MOF bridged with polyaniline nanocomposite (NCM/PANI). Conductive polymer PANI can not only improve the conductivity of MOFs, but also connects small fragments together to improve the overall structural quality. Correspondingly to innovative structure is excellent electrochemical performance, the NCM/PANI obtains an excellent specific capacitance of 1323.3 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 and good rate capability with the capacitance value can maintain 943.3 F g−1 when the current density was amplified by five times. Furthermore, the assembled asymmetric supercapacitor with NCM/PANI and active carbon (AC) as positive and negative electrode respectively achieves a high energy density of 118.9 Wh kg−1 even the power density reached 8000 W kg−1. The study provides a new research perspective for using conductive polymer such as PANI to improve the comprehensive electrochemical performance of MOF-based materials.

Hydrothermal architecture of Bi0.48Tb1.52Ti2O7/polyaniline nanocomposites to improve electrochemical hydrogen storage performance

Today, with the emergence of new technologies and the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure such as hydrogen, the discussion of energy security and the promotion of active materials for advanced hydrogen storage has an important place. For this purpose, in this research, an important strategy was designed to develop the electrochemical performance of electroactive materials Bi0.48Tb1.52Ti2O7 (BTTO) nanostructure was prepared through a hydrothermal route in the presence of fructose as a biotemplate agent. To achieve the desired chemical composition and to optimize the size and morphology, the reaction temperature was changed. The effect of polyaniline conductive polymer to improve hydrogen storage capacity was studied by introducing two composites. The structural characteristics, dimensions, and porosity of the products were investigated through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). In the following, the potential of pristine Bi0.48Tb1.52Ti2O7 nanoparticles and Bi0.48Tb1.52Ti2O7/Polyaniline (BTTO/PANI) nanocomposites in the direction of hydrogen storage were evaluated through CV, EIS and CP techniques. BTTO/PANI nanocomposites showed a discharge capacity of 1223 mAhg−1 after 15 cycles. This study showed the potential effect of PANI in terms of improving conductivity and providing more charge transfer channels for hydrogen transfer.

One step production of phosphorene from red phosphorus and investigation of their supercapacitor applications with conducting polymers

In this work, phosphorene, which was used as an additive to the conductive polymer (polyaniline), was produced in a single step using the chemical method at 80 °C in 6 h for the first time in the literature. In addition, composites of polyaniline with phosphorene have also been produced for the first time in the literature, and these materials have been used as electrode materials in supercapacitors. The parameters of supporting electrolyte concentration, monomer concentration and cycle number, which are the factors affecting the success of electrochemical synthesis, were optimized and the optimum values for these parameters were determined for polymers. The structural and morphological properties of the produced 2D phosphorene were investigated using spectroscopic and microscopic methods. After that, phosphorene was simultaneously and electrochemically incorporated into the structure of polyaniline (Pani), which was produced by the electrochemical method, likewise. Finally, the phosphorene-based materials produced have been used as electrode components in supercapacitors. Hybrid supercapacitor electrodes (Phosphorene@Pani/PGEs) were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods and the changes in the capacitive behavior of these systems according to the number of cycles were examined using the galvanostatic charge-discharge technique. Specific capacitance value of phosphorene-doped composite material was 335.54 F·g−1 at a charge-discharge current density of 1.6 A·g−1.Capacitance retention of the composite material was 85 % at end of 1000 cycles with 1.6 A·g−1. It was also around of 80 % after 4000 cycles with 2.5 A·g−1 charge/discharge current densities. A significant increase in specific capacitance of 259.21 % was seen when compared with the electrode without phosphorene added. By adding of phosphorene in the conducting polymer structure, specific capacitance of the system is improved.

High conductive polymer PANI link Bi2MoO6 and PBA to establish “tandem hybrid catalysis system” by coupling photocatalysis and PMS activation technology

In order to design an efficient advanced oxidation system to improve the inherent limitations in removing refractory organic pollutants, we couple photocatalysis and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation technology to establish a tandem hybrid catalysis system inspired by series hybrid electric vehicles. Among them, Bi2MoO6, as an electric power source, can be driven by fuel (light) to generate continuous power (electron) input into the prussian blue analogues (PBA) through the transmission shaft polyaniline (PANI), allowing it to respond quickly and continuously activate PMS. Therefore, it exhibits excellent catalytic performance to degrade DC increased by 55%, and the catalytic rate constant k increased by 7 times compared with the PMS alone. Continuous flow experiments are explored to reveal the feasibility of engineering applications. This study provides a new strategy of tandem hybrid catalysis system to drive future advanced water treatment technologies.

High‐Performance and Stable Polyaniline@Niobium Sulfide Electrode for an Asymmetric Supercapacitor

AbstractConducting polymers have attained a lot of interest due to extraordinary conductivity, large pore size, and surprising stability. In this work, the conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) and niobium sulfide (NbS) were synthesized by polymerization of aniline and hydrothermal method, respectively. The PANI@NbS nanocomposite electrode material had a specific capacity (Cs) of 1050 C g−1, which is larger than that of the reference sample (NbS = 300 C g−1). Besides, the hybrid device (PANI@NbS//PANI@AC) was designed and the electrochemical characteristics were determined. The hybrid device showed an excellent value of Cs of 1207 C g−1 with higher energy density Ed and power density Pd. The device also exhibited remarkable stability, and 85 % of the initial capacity is retained after 1000 cycles.

Reinforcing the assembly of NiV-LDH and MoS2 with PANI as a coupling agent to form a ternary composite of NiV-LDH/PANI/MoS2 for enhanced supercapacitor performance

The study provides a new research perspective for using conductive polymer polyaniline as coupling agent when compounding molybdenum sulfide with other monodisperse materials. The present study reports the construction of a novel ternary composite comprising nickel vanadium layered double hydroxides /polyaniline/molybdenum sulfide (NiV-LDH/PANI/MoS2) by utilizing polyaniline as a coupling agent to anchor NiV-LDH and MoS2. The incorporation of PANI, which exhibits excellent conductivity, facilitates the formation of an improved electron transfer pathway among individual NiV-LDH spheres. Additionally, the presence of stable MoS2 coating on the surface of PANI further enhances the overall stability of the composite. As a result of these innovative structural features, the NiV-LDH/PANI/MoS2 composite demonstrates outstanding electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance value reaching 1167.9 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A/g and remarkable rate capability as evidenced by retaining 74.5 % capacitance even at a high current density of 10 A/g. Furthermore, when employed in an assembled asymmetric supercapacitor alongside active carbon (AC) serving as negative electrode, NiV-LDH/PANI/MoS2//AC achieves an impressive energy density value of 36.51 Wh kg−1 at 3600 W kg−1.

Revealing the causes of degradation of an asymmetric ionic liquid supercapacitor with a composite polyaniline/carbon electrode

The extended window of electrochemical stability of ionic liquids and the high specific capacitance values of activated carbon (AC)/conductive polymer (polyaniline, Pani) composite materials are promising approaches to improve the performance of supercapacitors (SC).In this work, we studied the stability of an asymmetric AC//Pani-C cell with 1 M solution of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4) in acetonitrile as an electrolyte. Pani-C (56 wt% of Pani) composite was prepared by oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of high surface area AC (SBET = 2300 m2‧g−1). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies data confirmed the formation of Pani-C composite. Combination of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge method, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 2- and 3-electrode cell configurations gave information about anodic (1 V vs. Ti) and cathodic (−1.8 V vs. Ti) potential limits of electrochemical stability, and potential of zero charge of Pani-C and AC.From these data, optimal mass ratio of Pani-C and AC electrodes was obtained for asymmetric SC assembly. It was found that after 500 charge/discharge cycles, the capacitance of the asymmetric AC//Pani-C SC decreased by 15% from 46.8 to 39.9 F·g−1 as a result of Pani-C degradation. The specific capacitance of AC remained virtually unchanged (decreased from 144 to 141 F·g−1), while that of Pani-C decreased by 8.7% from 230 to 210 F·g−1. Electrochemical measurements showed that degradation is accompanied by an increase in the working potential window of Pani-C (from 0.85 V to 0.97 V) and a shift in Emin…Emax working potentials from 0.15 … 1 to 0.52 … 1.49 V vs. Ti in the beginning and in the end of stability test, respectively. The last region is related to the potential for non-conductive pernigraniline formation (1.3 V vs. Ti). It was shown that the main reason of AC//Pani-C SC capacitance decay is a gradual increase in the operating potential window with a constantly shifts towards anodic values of positive Pani-C electrode, which resulted in accumulation of nonconductive polymer form that does not participate in charge accumulation.

Pickering emulsions as an effective route for the preparation of bioactive composites: A study of nanocellulose/polyaniline particles with immunomodulatory effect

Several studies have reported on application of cellulose particles for stabilizing Pickering emulsions (PE). Here we employ an original approach that involves using these particles as a part of advanced composite colloids made of conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) or nanofibrils (CNF). PANI/cellulose particles were prepared using oxidative polymerization of aniline in situ in the presence of CNC or CNF. The type and amount of celluloses (CNC vs CNF) and concentration of precursors (aniline monomer and oxidant) used in the reaction determined properties of the colloidal particles, such as size, morphology and content of PANI. The particles demonstrated intriguing biological characteristics, including no cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, antioxidant activity and related immunomodulatory activity. For the first time, such composites were used to successfully stabilize oil-in-water PE with undecane or capric/caprylic triglyceride oils. The properties of the emulsions were determined by the PANI/cellulose particles and oil used. The key finding of the study is the demonstrated ability of PANI/cellulose particles to stabilize PE, as well as the excellent antioxidant activity and ROS scavenging action originating from PANI presence, indicating potential of such systems for use in biomedicine, particularly for wound healing.

Banana stem biochar composite with polyaniline for energy storage applications

The production and use of activated carbon from biochar, exclusively for energy storage and environmental applications was attracting attention. In this work, the commonly available banana stem was selected as a precursor to be converted into biochar (BC) at 500℃. The conducting polymer poly aniline (PANI) was then incorporated into the char matrix (BC-PANI) in order to improve the electrical properties. FTIR, UV–visible, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques were used to characterize the polymer composite. The integration PANI onto BC was clearly revealed from SEM and TEM micrographs and also the nanocomposite formation (BC-PANI, 0.37 nm) was confirmed from the XRD analysis. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance was analyzed using cyclicvoltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Both BC and BC-PANI attained maximum specific capacitance of 27.00 and 57.50 Fg−1 respectively. The various resistance that originated at electrode/electrolyte interface was also identified from impedance spectroscopy. These findings highlighted the good capacitive nature of the electrode material (BC-PANI).

(Invited) Solid-State Biophotoelectronics Using Photosystem I

For the Grahame Award Symposium Photosystem I (PSI) is one of the primary macromolecular machines that drive photosynthesis in green plants and cyanobacteria. Extracted PSI has been employed successfully as a macromolecular photosensitizer within a host of low-cost electrochemical and solid-state photovoltaic architectures. This presentation will also explore our group’s recent efforts to integrate PSI with advanced nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, carbon quantum dots, and conducting polymers polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole, polyviologens, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in wet photoelectrochemical cells. These composite assemblies enhance charge shuttling processes from individual proteins within multilayer assemblies—greatly reducing charge transfer resistances and improving overall efficiency of photocells. Recently, our group has reported two new prototype solid-state devices in which PSI or PSI/PANI is sandwiched between conducting polymer electrodes. The group has also succeeded in stabilizing PSI films via crosslinking to create “wet” photoelectrochemical cells with greater performance and longevity. Finally, our current work is aimed at building new prototypes using PSI in solid state interfaces for scalable solar energy conversion. Finally, the incorporation of PSI into conducting polymer frameworks holds promise for improved conductivity and orientational control in the photoactive layers in these devices.