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Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 19341

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Prof. Dr. Mohammed Muzibur Rahman

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Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Interests: nanocomposites; nanomaterials; sensors; catalysis; detection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

First of all, it gives me an immense pleasure to introduce a special issue named as " Nanostructure Materials Coupled Conducting Polymer Composites and Their Potential Applications " in “Polymers” under MDPI. This will deal with composite materials coupled nano-technological aspects for the development of various sensor probes in potential applications based on conducting polymers. Polymer composite synthesis with various nanostructure materials is recently developed according to the need to improve the composite or materials in the specific applications for the industrial demands as well as daily needs. Developing bio- & nano-technology is receiving much attention in terms of their research and improvement on the topic of " Nanostructure Materials Coupled Conducting Polymer Composites and Their Potential Applications " recently. In the field of polymers, the nanomaterial codoped conducting polymers emerges as a challenging prospect due to their remarkable preparations, growth & characterizations, processing & fabrications, developments & potential applications such as Polymerization; Sensors; Bio-degradation; Bio-sensors; Electrosping; Bio-plastic; Nanofabrication; Blendings; Bio-polymers; Drug delivery; Hydro-gels; Fabrication; Sol-Gel; Cross-linking; bio-fuels. Depending on the potential application, the prepared conducting nanocomposite polymers may need bio-compatibility, mechanical strength, thermal or electric conductivity, good charge carried mobility, analyte specificity, detection as well as sensitivity, The relationship between the final properties of novel polymer nanocomposite mateirals and the path of their origin, structure, and treatment is summarized by one fundamental question, “How to bring these new composite polymer nanomaterials to practical applications in a small or large scales? Both theoretical and practical features of polymer materials fo nano-sciences, physico-chemicals, nano-technologicals, and bio-medicals will be covered. It will be compiled for a great preference of audience with diverse backgrounds of educational sectors and assembling of innovative research and development sectors. It will also cover the information extensively to dynamic experts in the field of polymers, hybrid materials, nanomaterials, nanocomposites sciences and technologies. Generally, all significant aspects dealing with the polymer materials, chemistry, physics, biology, technology, health-sciences, and engineering of polymer nanocomposites and their extensive applications in chemi- & bio-technology are pretended. Authors are cordially invited to present their novel ideas and recent advance development as a regular papers and reviews in the fields of " Nanostructure Materials Coupled Conducting Polymer Composites and Their Potential Applications " in this special issue of Polymers. I hope, this selective special topic has certainly attained achievement of its conventional essence and achieved innovative routes of preparation, improvement, continuous changes in multi-dimensional nano-bio-technological areas of polymers. It will focus on cutting-edge nano-sciences and bio-technology of nano-composite polymer materials as well as polymer nanomaterials. It is expected to guide to the preparation of novel nano-composite polymer materials with special properties, functions, and potential applications. It will open up bright possibilities for the solution to the environmental, biomedical, industrial, and ecological problems. I wish that this issue will contribute to bequeath an attractive atmosphere and precious resources to subsequent generation. Finally, both original research and review papers are welcome in this issue. Thus, I am delighted to invite you to contribute your recent reseach finding as a full-papers, letters, communications, reviews, and perspective articles.

Prof. Dr. Mohammed Muzibur Rahman
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

conducting polymers
nanofibers
composite materials
hybrid materials
chemical sensors
co-polymers
bio-sensors
electrosping
rubber composites
bio-degradation
fibrous materials
carbon materials
polymer blends
polymerization
biopolymers
bioactive polymers
drug delivery
hydrogels
fabrication
sol-gel
cross-linking
bioplastic
polymer nanomaterials
celluloses

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A High-Energy-Density Magnesium-Air Battery with Nanostructured Polymeric Electrodes

by Abdulrahman Faraj Alharbi, Abdulaziz Abdulkarim Mansour Abahussain, Mian Hammad Nazir and Syed Zohaib Javaid Zaidi

Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3187; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153187 - 04 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2121

Abstract

The greenhouse emissions are biggest challenge of the present era. The renewable power sources are required to have characteristics of good charge capacity, energy density with proven charging discharging cycles for energy storage and applications. Mg-air batteries (MABs) are an alternative renewable power source due to their inexpensive cost. In particular, the previous reports presented the metal-air battery structure, with a specific energy overall output of 765 W h kg⁻¹. This paper is focused mainly on the MAB, which employed nanocomposite polymeric electrodes with a proven energy density of 545 W h kg⁻¹ and a charge capacity of 817 mA h g⁻¹ when electrolyzed at a cycling current density of 7 mA cm⁻². Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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17 pages, 6478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phyto Synthesis of Manganese-Doped Zinc Nanoparticles Using Carica papaya Leaves: Structural Properties and Its Evaluation for Catalytic, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities

by Mir Waqas Alam, Hassan S. Al Qahtani, Muhammad Aamir, Alaaedeen Abuzir, Muhammad Shuaib Khan, Maryam Albuhulayqah, Shehla Mushtaq, Noushi Zaidi and Ambikapathi Ramya

Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14091827 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3052

Abstract

The current study aims to synthesize bimetal oxide nanoparticles (zinc and manganese ions) using the carica papaya leaf extract. The crystallite size of the nanoparticle from X-ray diffraction method was found to be 19.23 nm. The nanosheet morphology was established from Scanning Electron Microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction was used to determine the elemental content of the synthesized material. The atomic percentage of Mn and Zn was found to be 15.13 and 26.63. The weight percentage of Mn and Zn was found to be 7.08 and 10.40. From dynamic light scattering analysis, the hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential was found to be 135.1 nm and −33.36 eV. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl radical, hydroxyl radical, FRAP, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging tests were used to investigate the antioxidant activity of Mn-Zn NPs. Mn-Zn NPs have substantial antioxidant properties. The photocatalytic activity of the Mn-Zn NPs was assessed by their ability to degrade Erichrome black T (87.67%), methyl red dye (78.54%), and methyl orange dye (69.79%). Additionally, it had significant antimicrobial action S. typhi showed a higher zone of inhibition 14.3 ± 0.64 mm. Mn-Zn nanoparticles were utilized as a catalyst for p-nitrophenol reduction. The bimetal oxide Mn-Zn NPs synthesized using C. papaya leaf extract exhibited promising dye degradation activity in wastewater treatment. Thus, the aforementioned approach will be a novel, low cost and ecofriendly approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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14 pages, 3864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the Liquid Crystal Order of Poly(azomethine-sulfone)s on the Semiconducting Properties

by Oana Dumbravă, Dumitru Popovici, Decebal Vasincu, Ovidiu Popa, Lăcrămioara Ochiuz, Ștefan-Andrei Irimiciuc, Maricel Agop and Anca Negură

Polymers 2022, 14(7), 1487; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14071487 - 06 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1476

Abstract

Organic semiconductors are an attractive class of materials with large application in various fields, from optoelectronics to biomedicine. Usually, organic semiconductors have low electrical conductivity, and different routes towards improving said conductivity are being investigated. One such method is to increase their ordering degree, which not only improves electrical conduction but promotes cell growth, adhesion, and proliferation at the polymer–tissue interface. The current paper proposes a mathematical model for understanding the influence of the ordering state on the electrical properties of the organic semiconductors. To this end, a series of aromatic poly(azomethine)s were prepared as thin films in both amorphous and ordered states, and their supramolecular and electrical properties were analyzed by polarized light microscopy and surface type cells, respectively. Furthermore, the film surface characteristics were investigated by atomic force microscopy. It was established that the manufacture of thin films from mesophase state induced an electrical conductivity improvement of one order of magnitude. A mathematical model was developed in the framework of a multifractal theory of motion in its Schrodinger representation. The model used the order degree of the thin films as a fractality measure of the physical system’s representation in the multifractal space. It proposed two types of conductivity, which manifest at different ranges of fractalization degrees. The mathematical predictions were found to be in line with the empirical data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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15 pages, 4301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ZnS Quantum Dots Decorated on One-Dimensional Scaffold of MWCNT/PANI Conducting Nanocomposite as an Anode for Enzymatic Biofuel Cell

by Tariq Altalhi, Amine Mezni, Mohammed A. Amin, Moamen S. Refat, Adil A. Gobouri, Nimra Shakeel, Mohd Imran Ahamed and Inamuddin

Polymers 2022, 14(7), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14071321 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2054

Abstract

This study aims to design a new nanocomposite as a supporting material for wiring the enzyme to develop a bioanode in the enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC). In this work, polyaniline-based nanocomposite was synthesized by in situ polymerization of aniline monomer. The zeta potential study of the nanofillers was carried out, which reveals the interaction between the nanofillers. The synthesized nanocomposite (MWCNT/ZnS/AgNWs/PANI) was characterized by analytical techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Furthermore, the surface morphology and the in-depth information of the synthesized nanocomposite were displayed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. In addition, the as-synthesized nanocomposite and the designed bioanode underwent the electrochemical assessment using different electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) for evaluating the electrochemical behavior of the fabricated anodes. The electrochemically regulated bioanode (MWCNT/ZnS/AgNWs/PANI/Frt/GOx) obtained an open-circuit voltage of 0.55 V and produced a maximal current density of 7.6 mA cm⁻² at a glucose concentration of 50 mM prepared in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.0) as a supporting electrolyte at a scan rate of 100 mV s⁻¹. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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12 pages, 3748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Convenient and Simple Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) Actuator Based on a Platinum-Coated Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone)–Polyaniline Composite Membrane

by Mohammad Luqman, Hamid M. Shaikh, Arfat Anis, Saeed M. Al-Zahrani and Mohammad Asif Alam

Polymers 2022, 14(4), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14040668 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2072

Abstract

Herein, we present new approaches for developing sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) and polyaniline-based (PANI) actuator formed by film-casting and chemical reduction of Pt electrodes. We have thoroughly studied the synthesis of SPEEK and characterized it by different analytical techniques. The ion-exchange capacity (IEC) and proton conductivity of SPEEK-PANI polymer membrane were calculated to be 1.98 mmol g⁻¹ and 1.97 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, respectively. To develop an IPMC actuator, SPEEK was combined with PANI through in-situ polymerization method. SEM and XRD were used to check the morphology of the given SPEEK-PANI-Pt membrane. In addition, FT-IR and EDX techniques confirmed the molecular structure and chemical conformation of SPEEK-PANI polymer membrane. Pt electrode layers homogeneously dispersed on the IPMC membrane surface, which was demonstrated by smooth SEM micrographs. The actuation functioning, including the high bending deflection, proton conductivity, current density and IEC of IPMC actuator based on SPEEK-PANI-Pt, was obtained owing to its strong electrochemical and electromechanical characteristics. Synergistic combinations of SPEEK and PANI produced membrane that are flexible, mechanically strong and robust. The developed materials have immense capability as actuators for various applications including in biomimetics and robotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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23 pages, 9197 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Stretching on Thermal Behaviour of Electro-Conductive Weft-Knitted Composite Fabrics

by Md. Reazuddin Repon, Ginta Laureckiene and Daiva Mikucioniene

Polymers 2022, 14(2), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14020249 - 08 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1774

Abstract

This experiment presents a study carried out on the electric charge passing textiles for heat production in compression weft-knitted composite fabrics used for medical purposes. The aim was to flourish compression support of knitted structure with integrated highly sensitive metal (silver) coated polyamide multifilament yarns and to evaluate its heat origination attributes after stretching in different levels as well as changes of the temperature during the time. A flat double needle-bed knitting machine was utilized to fabricate the selected specimens together with elastomeric inlay-yarn incorporated into the structure for compression generation and silver coated polyamide yarn laid as ground yarn in a plated structure for heat generation. Six different variants depending on the metal coated yarn amount used and the fabric structure along with two types of the conductive yarn linear density were fabricated for this research work. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were preoccupied to show the morphology of conductive yarn and thermal pictures were captured to study the evenness of the heat over the surface of composite fabrics depending on conductive yarn distribution in the pattern repeat. The temperature profile of fabricated composite fabrics and comparison of the heat generation by specimens after stretching in different levels was studied Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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16 pages, 7506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sensitive Detection of Thiourea Hazardous Toxin with Sandwich-Type Nafion/CuO/ZnO Nanospikes/Glassy Carbon Composite Electrodes

by Mohammed M. Rahman, Md M. Alam, Sulaiman Y. M. Alfaifi, Abdullah M. Asiri and Meser M. Ali

Polymers 2021, 13(22), 3998; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13223998 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1909

Abstract

In this research study, we developed a voltammetric electrochemical sensor probe with a copolymer Nafion (Sulfonated Tetrafluoroethylene-based Fluoro-polymer) decorated with hydrothermally prepared sandwich-type CuO/ZnO nanospikes (NSs) onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for reliable thiourea (TU) detection. The detailed characterizations in terms of structural morphology, binding energy, elemental compositions, grain size and crystallinity for synthesized NSs were performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. The differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) analysis for TU showed good linearity at current-versus-TU concentration on the calibration plot in the 0.15~1.20 mM range, which is defined as a dynamic detection range (LDR) of TU in a phosphate buffer solution. Considering the slope of LDR over the GCE-coated NSs surface area (0.0316 cm²), the TU sensor sensitivity (0.4122 µA µM⁻¹ cm⁻²) was obtained. Besides this, the low limit (LOD) for TU detection was calculated and found to be 23.03 ± 1.15 µM. The fabricated Nafion/CuO/ZnO NSs/GCE sensor probe was created as a reliable sensor based on reproducibility, interference effect, stability and response time. Real bio-samples were investigated and the results confirm the anticipated reliability of the TU sensor probe. Thus, this is a noble way to develop enzyme-free electrochemical sensors that could be an alternative approach for the detection of chemicals in the field of enzyme-free biosensor development technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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14 pages, 7885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AC Electric-Field Assistant Architecting Ordered Network of Ni@PS Microspheres in Epoxy Resin to Enhance Conductivity

by Zhiliang Han, Jinlu Wang, Qingliang You, Xueqing Liu, Biao Xiao, Zhihong Liu, Jiyan Liu and Yuwei Chen

Polymers 2021, 13(21), 3826; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213826 - 05 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1804

Abstract

By using the low loading of the conductor filler to achieve high conductivity is a challenge associated with electrically conductive adhesion. In this study, we show an assembling of nickel-coated polystyrene (Ni@PS) microspheres into 3-dimensional network within the epoxy resin with the assistance of an electric field. The morphology evolution of the microspheres was observed with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The response speed of Ni@PS microsphere to the electric field were investigated by measuring the viscosity and shear stress variation of the suspension at a low shear rate with an electrorheological instrument. The SEM results revealed that the Ni@PS microspheres aligned into a pearl-alike structure. The AC impedance spectroscopy confirmed that the conductivity of this pearl-alike alignment was significantly enhanced when compared to the pristine one. The maximum enhancement in conductivity is achieved at 15 wt. % of Ni@PS microspheres with the aligned composites about 3 orders of magnitude as much as unaligned one, typically from ~10⁻⁵ S/m to ~10⁻² S/m. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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11 pages, 3088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication of Novel and Potential Selective 4-Cyanophenol Chemical Sensor Probe Based on Cu-Doped Gd₂O₃ Nanofiber Materials Modified PEDOT:PSS Polymer Mixtures with Au/µ-Chip for Effective Monitoring of Environmental Contaminants from Various Water Samples

by Mohammed Muzibur Rahman and S. Y. Alfaifi

Polymers 2021, 13(19), 3379; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13193379 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1812

Abstract

Herein, a novel copper-doped gadolinium oxide (Cu-doped Gd₂O₃; CGO) nanofiber was synthesized by a simple solution method in the basic phase and successfully characterized. We have used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) techniques for characterization of the CGO nanofiber. The CGO nanofiber was used later to modify Au-coated μ-Chips with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) polymer mixtures (coating binder) to selectively detect 4-cyanophenol (4-CP) in an aqueous medium. Notable sensing performance was achieved with excellent sensitivity (2.4214 µAµM⁻¹ cm⁻²), fast response time (~12 s), wide linear dynamic range (LDR = 1.0 nM–1.0 mM: R² = 0.9992), ultra-low detection limit (LoD; 1.3 ± 0.1 pM at S/N = 3), limit of quantification (LoQ; 4.33 pM), and excellent reproducibility and repeatability for CGO/Au/μ-Chip sensor. This CGO modified Au/μ-chip was further applied with appropriate quantification and determination results in real environmental sample analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Potential Applications)

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