Electrosynthesis of Polyaniline from Choline-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents: Morphology, Stability and Electrochromism

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Paula M V Fernandes (Author) Other; Jose M Campina (Author) FCUP; Carlos M Pereira (Author) FCUP; Fernando Silva (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of the Electrochemical Society

Vol. 159

Pages: G97-G105

ISSN: 0013-4651

Publisher: Electrochemical Society, Inc.

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 42 Citations

Scopus - 45 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Materials engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-FBV

DOI: 10.1149/2.059209jes

Abstract (EN): Electropolymerization from deep eutectic solvents (DES), a green alternative to room temperature ionic liquids, could be a convenient route to the fabrication of organic semiconductors at lower economic and environmental cost which has been barely studied in the literature. This work explores the novel use of choline-based solvents in the electrosynthesis of Polyaniline (PANI), a model conducting polymer. Different mixtures of choline chloride with ethylene glycol (Ethaline), glycerol (Glyceline), and urea (Reline) were prepared for these purposes. PANI was grown and characterized in-situ by Cyclic Voltammetry. Ex situ Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) unveiled the formation of dense matrices in the nanoscale from Ethaline and Glyceline but just a bunch of clusters from Reline. The large amounts of ionic and H bond donor species in these formulations, led to conductivities ten times higher than those for aqueous PANI (sigma approximate to 63 S . cm(-1)), great reversibility for the transitions between the different redox states of the polymer (indicating efficient charge transport and low amount of charge traps), and a limited stability toward continuous potential cycling in DES (associated to the increase in the water content). Nonetheless, the latter was significantly improved in aqueous media. More generally, the feasibility of electropolymerization processes using DES is demonstrated.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9