Well-defined polyindole–Au NPs nanobrush as a platform for electrochemical oxidation of ethanol

Abstract

Over the recent decades, conducting polymers have received great interest in many fields including microelectronics, energy conversion devices, and biosensing due to their unique properties like electrical conductivity, stability, and simple synthesis. Modification of conducting polymers with noble metals e.g. gold enhances their properties and opens new opportunities to also apply them in other fields like electrocatalysis. Here, we focus on the synthesis of hybrid material based on polyindole (PIN) nanobrush modified with gold nanoparticles and its application towards electrooxidation of ethanol. The paper presents systematic studies from synthesis to electrochemical sensing applications. For the characterization of PIN–Au composites, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses were used. The electrocatalytic performance of the proposed hybrid material towards alcohol oxidation was studied in alkaline media by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The results show that PIN–Au hybrid can be employed as an effective and sensitive platform for the detection of alcohols, which makes it a promising material in electrocatalysis or sensors. Moreover, the proposed composite exhibits electrocatalytic activity towards ethanol oxidation, which combined with its good long-term stability opens the opportunity for its application in fuel cells.

The comparative study by Raman spectroscopy of the plastic tide in the three ports of the Mediterranean Sea

“…Also, photo-assisted techniques can enhance the detection/removal of chemicals from the solution. Nevertheless, when it comes to the particular chemicals monitoring in the water, the voltammetry-based method is one of the most commonly used (Warczak et al 2021 ). However, depending on the chemistry of the electrode, experimental conditions and the chosen method, the detection limit of dye and its degradation (and photodegradation) products can be increased.…”

“…Then, the PIN-Au NP electrode improved sensing compared to the bare GC. The PIN-Au NP layer onto the GC electrode was prepared with the procedure described in Warczak et al ( 2021 ). The surface area for GC was 0.0314 cm 2 .…”

Development of High-Performance Polyindole/Silicon Carbide Nanocomposites for Optoelectrical and Sensing Applications

“…It may be due to the influence of both benzene and pyrrole rings in the structure, which in turn induce the characteristics of poly(para phenylene) and PPy. 18,19 Continuous research on PIn showed that it is a viable candidate for usage in different applications, which include supercapacitors, 20 batteries, electrochromic devices, 21 sensors, 22 electrocatalysis, 23 anticorrosion, 24 and nonlinear optics. 25,26 Numerous studies on the methods for incorporating nanoparticles into polymeric matrix have been published, taking the polymer in solution or in melt form, like ex situ polymerization, in situ polymerization, melt mixing, solution mixing, etc.…”

“…Among these, PIn can be easily synthesized by the simple chemical oxidation method and is thermally stable with a moderate rate of degradation, high redox activity, and tunable conducting properties when compared to other CPs. It may be due to the influence of both benzene and pyrrole rings in the structure, which in turn induce the characteristics of poly­(para phenylene) and PPy. , Continuous research on PIn showed that it is a viable candidate for usage in different applications, which include supercapacitors, batteries, electrochromic devices, sensors, electrocatalysis, anticorrosion, and nonlinear optics. , …”