Fabrication of Hollow Nanocones Membrane with an Extraordinary Surface Area as CO2 Sucker

Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the development of eco-friendly solid sorbents that are cost-effective, noncorrosive, have a high gas capacity, and have low renewable energy for CO2 capture. Here, we claimed the fabrication of a three-dimensional (3D) film of hollow nanocones with a large surface area (949.5 m2/g), a large contact angle of 136.3°, and high surface energy. The synthetic technique is based on an electrochemical polymerization process followed by a novel and simple strategy for pulling off the formed layers as a membrane. Although the polymer-coated substrates were reported previously, the membrane formation has not been reported elsewhere. The detachable capability of the manufactured layer as a membrane braked the previous boundaries and allows the membrane’s uses in a wide range of applications. This 3D hollow nanocones membrane offer advantages over conventional ones in that they combine a π-electron-rich (aromatic ring), hydrophobicity, a large surface area, multiple amino groups, and a large pore volume. These substantial features are vital for CO2 capturing and storage. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity characteristic and application of the formed polymer as a CO2 sucker were investigated. These results demonstrated the potential of the synthesized 3D hollow polymer to be used for CO2 capturing with a gas capacity of about 68 mg/g and regeneration ability without the need for heat up.

Ionic liquid-Functionalized Poly-N-phenylpyrrole coating on NiTi Alloy Substrate for highly efficient Solid-phase Microextraction

A novel ionic liquid (i.e. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C4MIM]PF6) doped poly-N-phenylpyrrole (PPPy) composite coating ([C4MIM]PF6@PPPy) was successfully fabricated by direct electrochemical polymerization on the surface of NiTi substrate as solid phase...

Preparation and Characterization of Thermoelectric PEDOT/Te Nanorod Array Composite Films

In this study, we prepared Te nanorod arrays via a galvanic displacement reaction (GDR) on a Si wafer, and their composite with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) were successfully synthesized by electrochemical polymerization with lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) as a counter ion. The thermoelectric performance of the composite film was optimized by adjusting the polymerization time. As a result, a maximum power factor (PF) of 235 µW/mK2 was obtained from a PEDOT/Te composite film electrochemically polymerized for 15 s at room temperature, which was 11.7 times higher than that of the PEDOT film, corresponding to a Seebeck coefficient (S) of 290 µV/K and electrical conductivity (σ) of 28 S/cm. This outstanding PF was due to the enhanced interface interaction and carrier energy filtering effect at the interfacial potential barrier between the PEDOT and Te nanorods. This study demonstrates that the combination of an inorganic Te nanorod array with electrodeposited PEDOT is a promising strategy for developing high-performance thermoelectric materials.

Progress in Synthesis of Conductive Polymer Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene)

PEDOT is the most popularly used conductive polymer due to its high conductivity, good physical and chemical stability, excellent optical transparency, and the capabilities of easy doping and solution processing. Based on the advantages above, PEDOT has been widely used in various devices for energy conversion and storage, and bio-sensing. The synthesis method of PEDOT is very important as it brings different properties which determine its applications. In this mini review, we begin with a brief overview of recent researches in PEDOT. Then, the synthesis methods of PEDOT are summarized in detail, including chemical polymerization, electrochemical polymerization, and transition metal-mediated coupling polymerization. Finally, research directions in acquiring high-quality PEDOT are discussed and proposed.

Continuously Reinforced Carbon Nanotube Film Sea-Cucumber-Like Polyaniline Nanocomposites for Flexible Self-Supporting Energy-Storage Electrode Materials

The charge storage mechanism and capacity of supercapacitors completely depend on the electrochemical and mechanical properties of electrode materials. Herein, continuously reinforced carbon nanotube film (CNTF), as the flexible support layer and the conductive skeleton, was prepared via the floating catalytic chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) method. Furthermore, a series of novel flexible self-supporting CNTF/polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposite electrode materials were prepared by cyclic voltammetry electrochemical polymerization (CVEP), with aniline and mixed-acid-treated CNTF film. By controlling the different polymerization cycles, it was found that the growth model, morphology, apparent color, and loading amount of the PANI on the CNTF surface were different. The CNTF/PANI-15C composite electrode, prepared by 15 cycles of electrochemical polymerization, has a unique surface, with a "sea-cucumber-like" 3D nanoprotrusion structure and microporous channels formed via the stacking of the PANI nanowires. A CNTF/PANI-15C flexible electrode exhibited the highest specific capacitance, 903.6 F/g, and the highest energy density, 45.2 Wh/kg, at the current density of 1 A/g and the voltage window of 0 to 0.6 V. It could maintain 73.9% of the initial value at a high current density of 10 A/g. The excellent electrochemical cycle and structural stabilities were confirmed on the condition of the higher capacitance retention of 95.1% after 2000 cycles of galvanostatic charge/discharge, and on the almost unchanged electrochemical performances after 500 cycles of bending. The tensile strength of the composite electrode was 124.5 MPa, and the elongation at break was 18.9%.

The importance of doping TiO2 into polypyrrol nanofibers to improve their optical sensitivity

In this study Electrochemical polymerization was used to make polypyrrol nanofiber. The in situ chemical oxidative polymerization approach was used to create a nanocomposite of polypyrrole PPy-TiO2. To achieve homogeneous dispersion inside the PPy matrix, the TiO2 was dissolved and ultrasonically dispersed. The surface morphology of polypyrrol and PPy/TiO2 nanocomposites was studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), which revealed of a polypyrrol nanofibre network and showed that the TiO2 nanoparticles was well incorporated. The produced PPy/TiO2 nanocomposite was characterized using XRD (X-Ray diffraction) and FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared). The formation of TiO2 nanoparticales on a PPy layer matrix was discovered, as well as homogeneous dispersion of TiO2 inside the PPy matrix and considerable interaction between PPy and TiO2. The produced PPy/TiO2 nanocomposite sensors’ response was investigated towards of light-power sensitivity. The PPy/TiO2 synergistic effects improve the light sensitivity qualities of the photodetector. The maximium sensitivity of PPy/TiO2 was around (188 %) at 20% TiO2 concentration at a light power of 30 mW for a laser diode 720 nm, while the rise time and fall time was ≈ 2.5sec.

Thiophene Functionalized Porphyrin for Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction

The production of catalysts that display strong efficiencies in aqueous media for the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is essential both for a healthy world and for realistic application of energy waste to generate value-added fuels. In this study, thiophene functionalized metal-free (poly-H2Por) and cobalt porphyrin-based (poly-CoPor) organometallic catalysts were easily attached on the pencil graphite electrode surface via electrochemical polymerization method and these, porphyrin coated, pencil graphite electrodes (PGE) were used as electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction for the first time in the literature. To reveal the electrochemical activity of CO2RR, the electropolymerized catalysts were investigated with linear sweep voltammetry in 0.1 M KHCO3 solution. The results showed that, the electrode which is modified with poly-CoPor decreased the overpotential of CO2RR, according to bare pencil graphite electrode, from -1.35 V to -0.63 V.