Electrochemical Deposition of Hollow N-Substituted Polypyrrole Microtubes from an Acoustically Formed Emulsion

Abstract

ABSTRACT:We outline an electrodeposition procedure from an emulsion to fabricate novel vertically aligned open and closed-pore microstructures of poly(N-(2-cyanoethyl)-pyrrole) (PPyEtCN) at an electrode surface. Adsorbed toluene droplets were employed as soft templates to direct polymer growth. The microstructures developed only in the presence of both ClO 4 − and H 2 PO 4 − doping ions due to a slower rate of polymer propagation in this electrolyte. Two sonication methods (probe and bath) were used to form the emulsion, producing significantly different microstructure morphologies. Control over microtube diameter can be achieved by simply altering the emulsion sonication time or the amount of toluene added to form the emulsion. Electrochemical characterization indicated the PPyEtCN microtube morphology had an increased electrochemical response compared to its bulk counterpart. TEM analysis of individual closed-pore microtubes identified a hollow interior at the base within which the toluene droplet was encapsulated. This cavity may be used to entrap other compounds making these materials useful in a range of applications. The methodology was also applied to form microstructures of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polypyrrole.

A Templateless Electropolymerization Approach to Nanorings Using Substituted 3,4‐Naphthalenedioxythiophene (NaPhDOT) Monomers

“…The results of relatively close to the results obtained McCarthy et al. but using a completely different method: electropolymerization of N ‐(2‐cyanoethyl)‐pyrrole using an acoustically formed emulsion . In their process, the formation of hollow structures was obtained thanks to adsorbed toluene droplets while in our process trace water induces for the formation of gas bubbles.…”

“…McCarthy et al. acoustically formed emulsions using N ‐(2‐cyanoethyl)pyrrole as monomer . In their process, no gas bubbles are present on the surface but adsorbed toluene droplets, present in the emulsion play the role of soft templates.…”

Exceptionally Strong Effect of Small Structural Variations in Functionalized 3,4-Phenylenedioxythiophenes on the Surface Nanostructure and Parahydrophobic Properties of Their Electropolymerized Films

“…Thus, Shi and co-workers demonstrated the formation of large vertically aligned hollow tubules (∼50–200 μm in diameter) with opened tops during the polymerization of pyrrole in aqueous media. ,, They explained the observed results as the formation of gas bubbles on the surface of the polypyrrole film and growing the polymer films around these bubbles. Similar results were observed by other authors with the same explanation of the mechanism of their formation. − During polymerization of pyrrole in aqueous solution in the presence of surfactant, growing of the polymer around gas bubbles can also result in the formation of hollow spherical or bowl-like microcontainers ( d ∼ 2–70 μm). , …”

Templateless electrodeposition of conducting polymer nanotubes on mesh substrates for high water adhesion

“…Different deposition charges (Qs) corresponding to different amounts of polymer were used in order to study the influence of this parameter on the formation of nanotubes. Hence, the formation of the nanotubes is due to appearance and and (−)-camphorsulfonic acids or poly(styrene sulfonic acid) to stabilize gas bubbles (O 2 and H 2 ) induced by water electrolysis or the decomposition of acidic water, respectively following the used electropolymerization method [43][44][45][46][47]. In our case, the electropolymerization is performed in anhydrous dichloromethane and we think that the formation might come either from decompo-…”