Modulating Electrochemical Activity in Polyaniline/Titanium Oxide Hybrid Nanostructured Ultrathin Films

Abstract

Hybrid and nanostructured ultrathin films of polyaniline (PANI) were fabricated using combined layer-by-layer (LbL) and surface sol−gel (SSG) processing with titanium oxide (TiO x ) layers. This enabled modulation of the electrochemical and the doping−dedoping process of the electroactive conjugated polymer with respect to thickness, presence of another polyelectrolyte, and intercalation of the inorganic slabs. The structure, composition, and viscoelastic behavior were proven by UV−vis absorbance, FT-IR, XPS, and QCM-D measurements. Spectroelectrochemical behavior showed that the oxidative stability of the films brought about the nanostructure control of the LbL process. On the other hand, the presence of the inorganic layer resulted in preventing electron transfer based on quinoid to benzenoid, Q → B, transitions. Thus, pairing the LbL assembly and the SSG process yielded a highly ordered, tunable structure in which the electrochemical behavior was modulated and correlated with diffusion-related arguments (Cottrell equation) of a blocking effect of the sol−gel layer. Further studies will be made on evaluating possible applications in thin film battery and capacitor devices.

Electrocatalytic Performance of Chemically Synthesized PIn-Au-SGO Composite toward Mediated Biofuel Cell Anode

“…PIn can be effortlessly prepared either electrochemical or by synthetic oxidation of indole monomer (C 8 NH 7 ) with genuinely good thermal stability, high redox activity, moderate degradation rate, and better air stability in contrast with PAni and PPy 20 , 21 . Different literary works have been published uncovering the electrochemical properties of PIn, utilized in battery anodes, corrosion protection, nano light-emitting devices 7 , 22 – 24 etc. Among different nanometallics, nano-gold bunches have pulled in extensive consideration over the current years as a result of the predominant practical properties which is empowering them to be relevant in different fields extending from catalysis to electronic applications and sensors 25 – 28 .…”

A core–shell titanium dioxide polyaniline nanocomposite for the needle‐trap extraction of volatile organic compounds in urine samples

“…Therefore, it strongly interacts with acidic compounds through electrostatic interaction. So, the surface of NPs could be readily modified with monolayer dispersed positively charged PANI by a facile chemisorption approach . PANI is unique among the conjugated polymers since its doping level can be readily controlled through an acid‐doping/base‐undoping process.…”

pH-tunable bioelectrocatalysis based on layer-by-layer films assembled with TiO2 nanoparticles and poly(allylamine hydrochloride)

“…(2) TiO 2 nanoparticles with their unique properties find their new and expanded application in this work. Recently, Advincula et al reported the fabrication of LBL films of polyaniline with titanium oxide formed by surface sol-gel process and the modulation of the electrochemical activity of the films [52]. Since the TiO 2 nanostructure formed by sol-gel method shows the pI value at 5.8 [53], it would also be possible to use this kind of TiO 2 to assemble LBL films with PAH on electrodes and realize the pH-switchable permeability of the films toward charged probes.…”