Polythiophene Composites Research Articles

Simultaneous Removal of As(iii) and As(v) from Aqueous Solution by Using Iron-Functionalized Polythiophene: A Novel Approach toward Water Treatment.

Arsenic contamination in groundwater poses a significant threat to human health, affecting millions worldwide. This study presents a novel approach for simultaneous remediation of both As(III) and As(V) by using iron-functionalized polythiophene (PTh@Fe) composites. The PTh@Fe composite was synthesized by a reduction process involving FeCl2/FeCl3 byproducts of polymerization, resulting in a highly efficient adsorbent for both As(III) and As(V) species. The investigation systematically examined key parameters influencing arsenic removal, including adsorbent dosage, pH, initial arsenic concentration, and contact time. The composite exhibited exceptional adsorption capacities, with maximum removal percentages of 98.7% for As(III) and 98.8% for As(V) under the optimized conditions. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses suggested endothermic and spontaneous adsorption processes following a pseudo 2nd-order mechanism. Furthermore, the Langmuir isotherm model provided an excellent fit to the experimental data, with maximum adsorption capacities of 8.62 mg/g for As(V) and 7.57 mg/g for As(III). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the feasibility of arsenic adsorption onto iron species in various oxidation states, offering valuable theoretical insights into the process. Furthermore, the composite demonstrated good reusability over multiple adsorption-desorption cycles and tolerance to coexisting anions, highlighting its practical applicability for water purification. This research demonstrates the potential of iron-functionalized polythiophene composites as a promising solution for addressing arsenic contamination in water sources, bridging the gap between innovative materials and theoretical understanding in environmental science and water treatment technologies.

Determination of the thermoelectric properties of exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride-filled unsubstituted polythiophene composites

Due to their distinctive electronic, mechanical, thermal, and optoelectronic properties, two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as valuable alternatives for thermoelectric (TE) materials. Recently, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a metal-free semiconductor, has attracted attention in many applications, including energy conversion and storage. However, research on the use of g-C3N4 in TE applications is still limited. In this study, the TE properties of exfoliated g-C3N4-filled unsubstituted polythiophene (PTh) composites were determined for the first time. For this purpose, g-C3N4 was synthesized from guanidine-hydrochloride by thermal treatment, and the exfoliation process was carried out by ultrasonic homogenization method. The composites containing different weight ratios of g-C3N4 were prepared. The peak shifts observed from FTIR-ATR and UV-vis analyses indicated the electrostatic interactions between g-C3N4 and PTh. From the electrical conductivity measurements of the samples, it was obtained that the electrical conductivity of the pristine PTh increased from 1.3x10−3 Scm−1 to 100.1 Scm−1 whereas the Seebeck coefficient increased from 9.5 µVK−1 to 116 µVK−1. Additionally, the power factor of the pristine PTh increased from 1.28x10−5 µWm−1K−2 to 85.81 µWm−1K−2. Based on the results, this study suggests that g-C3N4 is an efficient material to be used as an additive to enhance the TE properties of PTh.

Supercapacitor based on polymeric binary composite of polythiophene and single-walled carbon nanotubes

The aim of this work is to fabricate supercapacitor electrode based on poly (3-hexyl-thiophene-2, 5-diyl) (P3HT) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) nanocomposites with different ratios onto a graphite sheet as a substrate with a wide voltage window in nonaqueous electrolyte. Structural, morphological and electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposites of P3HT/SWCNTs were studied and discussed. The electrochemical properties included cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charging-discharging (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were investigated. The obtained results indicated that P3HT/SWCNTs nanocomposite possesses higher specific capacitance than that present in its individual component. The high electrochemical performance of the nanocomposite was due to formation of microporous structure which facilitates ions diffusion and electrolyte penetration in these pores. The morphological micrographs of the purified SWCNTs had buckypaper structure while the photomicrographs of P3HT/SWCNTs showed that SWCNTs appear behind and front of the P3HT nanospheres. The specific capacitance of 50% SWCNTs at 0.5 Ag−1 was found to be 245.8 Fg−1 compared with that of pure P3HT of 160.5 Fg−1.

Electromagnetic interference shielding performance by thermally stable magnesium ferrite encapsulated polythiophene composite

Electromagnetic interference shielding performance by thermally stable magnesium ferrite encapsulated polythiophene composite

Biodegradable Conducting Polymer Coating to Mitigate Early Stage Degradation of Magnesium in Simulated Biological Fluid: An Electrochemical Mechanistic Study

AbstractThe application of a biodegradable conducting polymer coating based on a polythiophene composite (PTC) to mitigate degradation of magnesium in an in vitro environment is reported. The rationale behind the study is to advance a bioactive coating to control the rapid early stage degradation of the magnesium and prevent inflammatory reactions and physiological complications, while, in the long term, the coating degrades, followed by the full degradation of the magnesium implant. The conducting polymer in this study is deposited on a bioabsorbable medical grade magnesium alloy, AZNd, through layer‐by‐layer deposition, and the degradation behavior in simulated biological fluid is studied electrochemically. The possibility of a synergistic effect by combining praseodymium conversion coating together with the conducting polymer coating in protecting magnesium is also examined. Results show that the highest level of corrosion mitigation is afforded by the combination of praseodymium conversion and the conducting polymer coating layers. Electrochemical models are advanced to explain the electroactivity of the conducting polymer across the film as well as at the interface with electrolyte and substrate. Based on the physical and electrochemical evidence, the barrier effect is proposed as the main protection mechanism.

Electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of polymer/carbon composites

Ferrocene-based polythiophene (PT) composites containing different carbon fillers like multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and carbon black (CB) were prepared through in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. The prepared PT composites were characterized by employing SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD and XPS techniques. The thermal stability of the PT composites was investigated by TG analysis. It was found that the thermal stability of PT composites was highly improved as compared with pure PT. The electrical conductivity of the composites was measured by a typical four-probe method. Electrical conductivity measurements indicated that the PT composites showed excellent electrical conductivity. Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of the composites was measured by using coaxial method in the frequency range of 1–4.5 GHz. The total shielding effectiveness (SET) achieved for PT composites along with MWCNT, RGO and CB was − 24 dB, − 11.27 dB, and − 10.46 dB at 50 wt% composite sample loading in the paraffin wax matrix, respectively. Therefore, the PT-MWCNT composite can be used for the EMI shielding applications.

Mesoporous strontium ferrite/polythiophene composite: Influence of enwrappment on structural, thermal, and electromagnetic interference shielding

Strontium ferrite (SrFe12O19) and Strontium ferrite enwrapped polythiophene (SrF/PT) composites have been synthesized via sol-gel and in-situ emulsion polymerization techniques for the first time. The structural, morphological, magnetic, dielectric, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performances of these composites have been investigated. The composite possessing SrF:PT = 2:1 (SrF/PT-21) composition showed maximum shielding effectiveness (SE) of −31.64 dB at 15.73 GHz for 1 mm thick sample in the Ku-band (12.4–18 GHz) region, which is found to be higher than all composites and pristine SrFe12O19. This behavior is mainly attributed to the high dielectric and magnetic losses occurred within the material. The enwrapping of mesoporous SrFe12O19 nanoparticles by conducting PT further eased the electron transportation within the composite network that offered the greater impedance match for electromagnetic wave. Therefore, the composite may act as a promising microwave absorber with a lightweight, high thermal stability, and excellent SE ability for a broad frequency range.

Extremely strong and tough polythiophene composite for flexible electronics

Strong, tough, and highly conductive polythiophene (PTh) materials are desired for making flexible electronics, but remain as a challenge. Herein, we propose a new strategy to use anionic surfactant as the dopant of PTh to bridge the interaction between the rigid PTh chains and the soft polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains. The dynamic network structure formed by the rigid PTh and the soft PEG could dissipate mechanical energy efficiently, which enables the optimized PTh composite to show both high tensile strength (160 MPa) and high flexibility (elongation-at-break of 110%). The tensile toughness of PTh composite (133 MJ m−3) is comparable to that of spider silk, which is the record of the highest toughness in natural materials. We have also established the relationship between the molecular structure of soft polymers and anionic dopants and the electrical and mechanical properties of PTh composites. Meanwhile, the optimized PTh composite also shows a high conductivity (9.5 S cm−1) and capacitance (135 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 current density). Thus we have fabricated PTh-based flexible conductors and PTh-based flexible supercapacitors to demonstrate its potential applications for flexible electronics.

Spectroscopic, morphological, thermal and dielectrical analysis of composite of polythiophene with photoactive transition metal complex of W(IV)

The present work involves the synthesis of polythiophene–potassium octacyanotungstate(IV) dihydrate composite via in-situ oxidative chemical polymerization method using \(\hbox {FeCl}_{3}\) as an oxidant. The resulting composite has been subjected to Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy characterization techniques, which confirm the successful synthesis of the composite. XRD shows that the crystalline structure of \(\hbox {K}_{4}[\hbox {W(CN)}_{8}]\cdot \hbox {2H}_{2}\hbox {O}\) has been retained in the composite. Thermogravimetric analysis data confirm the higher thermal stability of the composite in comparison with pure polythiophene, thus allowing it to be used as a promising material for high-temperature application purposes. Dielectric studies reveal that the dielectric constant and ac-conductivity of the composite increased by several orders of magnitude as compared with pure polythiophene at all frequencies, thus showing that the material can be used for various applications in the fields of charge storage devices and high-frequency device applications, and can also serve as a potential candidate for solar cell applications.

Rendering High Surface Area, Mesoporous Metal-Organic Frameworks Electronically Conductive.

We report the design and synthesis of a metal-organic framework (MOF)-polythiophene composite that has comparable electronic conductivity to reported conductive 3-D MOFs, but with display and retention of high porosity, including mesoporosity. A robust zirconium MOF, NU-1000, was rendered electronically conductive by first incorporating, via solvent-assisted ligand incorporation (SALI), a carefully designed pentathiophene derivative at a density of one pentamer per hexa-zirconium node. Using a cast film of the intermediate composite (termed pentaSALI) on conductive glass, the incorporated oligothiophene was electrochemically polymerized to yield the conductive composite, Epoly. Depending on the doping level of the polythiophene in the composite, it can be tuned from an insulating state to a semiconduting state with conductivity of 1.3 × 10-7 (S cm-1), which is comparable to values reported for 3-D conductive MOFs. The porosity of the thin-film MOF-polythiophene composite was assessed using decane vapor uptake as determined by quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM). The results indicate a porosity (pore volume) for Epoly essentially identical to that of bulk pentaSALI, and ∼74% of that of unmodified NU-1000. PentaSALI, and by inference Epoly, displays both micro- and mesoporosity, and features a BET surface area of nearly 1,600 m2·g-1, i.e., substantially larger than yet reported for any other electronically conductive MOF.

Supercapacitor based on electropolymerized polythiophene and multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites

In this paper we have reported the synthesis of the composites of polythiophene (PTP)and carbon nano tubes (CNTs) by easy in-situ polymerization method. Structure and morphology of the PTP-CNT composites were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).From the electrochemical studies, it was found that the electrochemical performance of pure PTP got improved due to the incorporation of CNTs into pure PTP in the composites. The CNTs incorporated binary composite electrode exhibited specific capacitance of 125F/g.

High-performance supercapacitors based on polymeric binary composites of polythiophene (PTP)–titanium dioxide (TiO2)

Polythiophene (PTP)-titanium dioxide (TiO2) composites were prepared via oxidative polymerization process using varying ratios of TiO2 content. Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the incorporation of TiO2 into PTP. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy was used to examine the nature of pure PTP and PTP/TiO2 composites. Distribution of TiO2 in PTP was examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with 1M aq. H2SO4 as an electrolyte with two electrode system. From charging-discharging measurement, it was found that the capacitance of PTP/TiO2 composites initially increased and then it decreased gradually. The maximum specific capacitance (250F/g) and energy density (5.54Wh/Kg) were recorded for PTP/TiO2 (10:2) composite at a current density of 1A/g. Furthermore, the power density was achieved up to 263.8W/kg at a current density of 1A/g.

Photovoltaic Study of Chemically Derived Titanium-Doped Polythiophene Composites

In the present work, titanium (Ti)-doped polythiophene (PTh) was synthesized by a chemical route using titanium chloride as oxidant. As-synthesized composites were further used for fabrication of photovoltaic (PV) cells with indium tin oxide/Ti-doped PTh/aluminum architecture. Structural, morphological, and optical analyses of as-synthesized composites were carried out through x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. A broad peak was found in the PL spectra of the composites at around 480 nm, indicating high charge generation efficiency. Different PV parameters of the fabricated PV cells were measured at room temperature under incandescent light of 100 W/m2. The optimized PV cell exhibited short-circuit current (Isc) and open-circuit voltage (Voc) on the order of 176 μA and 0.595 V, respectively. The values of Isc and Voc were used to compute the fill factor, which was found to be 0.521. The corresponding power conversion efficiency associated with the optimized cell was found to be 2.41%.

Semiconducting composite of chalcone-bridged polythiophene and titania, its ammonia vapor sensing property

Thiophene based chalcone linked monomer, 1, 3-di (thiophen-2-yl) prop-2-en-1-one (DTPN), its polymer (PDTPN) and the composite of the polymer with titania (TiO2) were synthesized under optimized reaction conditions. The structure of the monomer, polymer and the composite were characterized using 1H, 13C NMR, FT-IR, SEM, XRD, TGA and UV–visible spectral techniques. The monomer and the polymer possess reversible redox characteristics. The DC electrical conductivity at room temperature as well as at high temperature showed the semi conducting nature of the polymer and the composite. The variation of DC conductivity with temperature and the isothermal stability at various temperatures revealed Arrhenius type of behavior of the materials. The polymer (PDTPN) and the composite (PDTPN–TiO2) showed significant ammonia-sensing property at room temperature. Contact angle measurement disclosed that undoped and I2 doped polymers are hydrophobic while the polymers doped with p-TSA and HCl possess adjustable wetting characteristics. The theoretical evaluation of the material reveals the semi-conducting characteristics, the total charge density and the mechanism of ammonia interaction. This study proposes that the polymer, PDTPN and its composite with TiO2 can be used in electrical and electronic applications as well as in ammonia sensing.

Synthesis, characterization, luminescence properties and thermal studies of polyaniline and polythiophene composites with rare earth terbium(III) complex

In situ oxidative polymerization technique has been used to synthesize the conducting polymers of polyaniline, polythiophene and their composites. Rare earth metal complex of terbium(III) is synthesized by refluxing method and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurement, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis. Powder XRD shows polycrystalline nature of dopant (terbium(III) complex) and its distribution in polyaniline and polythiophene matrix is well evident from XRD and SEM. Lattice parameters a, b, c and α, β and γ have been calculated using powder X software for the dopant as well as the composites. Various parameters like interplanar distance (d), crystallite size (L) and dislocation density (ρ) have been also calculated by Bragg’s and Scherrer’s equations. The calculated d spacing values are in agreement with the experimental d spacing values. Terbium complex shows narrow emission bandwidths in DMSO solution. The good fluorescence of terbium complex might be due to the antenna effect of ligands. The luminescence properties of polymer composite of polyaniline and polythiophene have been investigated by UV–vis and fluorescence spectra. The experimental results of fluorescence show that polyaniline composite emit purple/green fluorescence in N-methyl 2-pyrolidone and polythiophene composite emit also purple/green fluorescence in DMSO solution at room temperature. The good thermal stability and fluorescence property of dopant and polymer composites are very important aspects for their technologic applications as luminescent probes or light emitting diode materials.

Role of gadolinium(III) complex in improving thermal stability of polythiophene composite

AbstractThis paper involves the preparation of polythiophene (PTP) and its composite by the oxidative polymerisation method by using ferric chloride as an oxidant and thiophene monomer. The gadolinium( III) complex obtained by the refluxing technique was used as dopant in the PTP matrix. On the basis of the spectroscopic characterisation, seven-coordinate geometry is proposed for the complex. Conductance measurement confirms the non-selectrolyte nature of complex. The PTP and its composite were subjected to FTIR, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope techniques. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern showed the high crystalline nature of the complex which in turn developed a good degree of crystallinity in the PTP composite. The average particle size was calculated as 4.655 ˚A and 3.737 ˚A for the dopant and PTP composite, respectively, by using Debye Scherrer’s equation. Thermal analysis was performed by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The TG, DTA and DSC results were well-correlated. The thermal analysis revealed the high thermal stability of the dopant which in turn improved the thermal stability of the PTP composite, revealing the potential of the composite for high temperature applications.

Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic properties of polythiophene-sensitized zinc oxide hybrid nanocomposites

The composites of polythiophene (PT)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with different PT wt%, (2%, 4%, 6%, 10% and 20%), were synthesized by an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. Zinc oxide nanoparticles, prepared by polymer pyrolysis method, with average particle size of 30nm were used as inorganic phase of these composites. The particle size of ZnO powder was measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR measurements and X-ray diffraction analyses showed that PT/ZnO composites were successfully synthesized. Optical properties of the prepared composites were investigated by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) that showed a broad peak in the visible region. The morphologies of the obtained composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also Barrett–Emmett–Teller (BET) technique was used to measure the specific surface area of the samples. The photocatalytic activities of the composites were evaluated by degradation of methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution under visible light (9W LED lamp) and sunlight irradiation.

Preparation and electromagnetic properties of chitosan-decorated ferrite-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polythiophene composites

Abstract The chitosan-decorated ferrite-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/polythiophene composites were synthesized through in situ chemical polymerization of thiophene in the presence of the chitosan-decorated ferrite-filled MWCNTs. The structure of the samples was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction. The shape and size were observed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The properties of the samples were tested with the vibrating sample magnetometer and the four-probe conductivity tester. The results showed that chitosan has been decorated onto the surface of MWCNTs. And the MWCNTs have been filled with a large number of ferrite crystals. And the chitosan-decorated ferrite-filled MWCNTs have also been coated with polythiophene. The magnetic saturation value of the chitosan-decorated ferrite-filled MWCNTs/polythiophene composites has achieved 0.18 emu/g, and the conductivity is 1.613 S/cm. Finally, based on the experimental results, the probable formation mechanism of this composite has been investigated.

A quenching method for the preparation of metal oxide–polythiophene composites having fiber structures

New “metal oxide–polythiophene” materials were synthesized using a one-pot quenching method. Good conductivity, specific luminescence properties, and fiber morphologies were exhibited by these complexes.

Cu-doped zinc oxide and its polythiophene composites: Preparation and antibacterial properties

Cu-doped zinc oxide and its polythiophene nanocomposites were prepared by the Sol–Gel and in situ polymerization methods, respectively. The structures, morphologies and compositions of the samples were characterized. The antibacterial properties of the samples on three kinds of strains were determined by using powder inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations. The study confirmed that the antibacterial activities of the composites were better than those of their each component. The antibacterial mechanisms of the samples were discussed further.