Showing papers on "Conductive polymer published in 2014"
TL;DR: Focusing mainly on polypyrrole, polyaniline and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), this work reviews conductive polymers from the perspective of tissue engineering.
1,347 citations
TL;DR: Using copper iodide, this work has succeeded in achieving a promising power conversion efficiency of 6.0% with excellent photocurrent stability and impedance spectroscopy revealed that CuI exhibits 2 orders of magnitude higher electrical conductivity than spiro-OMeTAD which allows for significantly higher fill factors.
Abstract: Organo-lead halide perovskite solar cells have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for the next generation of solar cells. To date, these perovskite thin film solar cells have exclusively employed organic hole conducting polymers which are often expensive and have low hole mobility. In a quest to explore new inorganic hole conducting materials for these perovskite-based thin film photovoltaics, we have identified copper iodide as a possible alternative. Using copper iodide, we have succeeded in achieving a promising power conversion efficiency of 6.0% with excellent photocurrent stability. The open-circuit voltage, compared to the best spiro-OMeTAD devices, remains low and is attributed to higher recombination in CuI devices as determined by impedance spectroscopy. However, impedance spectroscopy revealed that CuI exhibits 2 orders of magnitude higher electrical conductivity than spiro-OMeTAD which allows for significantly higher fill factors. Reducing the recombination in these devices could ...
1,169 citations
TL;DR: This Review provides a brief summary of the most recent research developments in the fabrication and application of one-dimensional ordered conducting polymers nanostructure (especially nanowire arrays) and their composites as electrodes for supercapacitors.
Abstract: This Review provides a brief summary of the most recent research developments in the fabrication and application of one-dimensional ordered conducting polymers nanostructure (especially nanowire arrays) and their composites as electrodes for supercapacitors. By controlling the nucleation and growth process of polymerization, aligned conducting polymer nanowire arrays and their composites with nano-carbon materials can be prepared by employing in situ chemical polymerization or electrochemical polymerization without a template. This kind of nanostructure (such as polypyrrole and polyaniline nanowire arrays) possesses high capacitance, superior rate capability ascribed to large electrochemical surface, and an optimal ion diffusion path in the ordered nanowire structure, which is proved to be an ideal electrode material for high performance supercapacitors. Furthermore, flexible, micro-scale, threadlike, and multifunctional supercapacitors are introduced based on conducting polyaniline nanowire arrays and their composites. These prototypes of supercapacitors utilize the high flexibility, good processability, and large capacitance of conducting polymers, which efficiently extend the usage of supercapacitors in various situations, and even for a complicated integration system of different electronic devices.
674 citations
TL;DR: This work demonstrates a simple and general strategy to substantially enhance the cycling stability of conductive polymer electrodes by deposition of a thin carbonaceous shell onto their surface by fabricating stable polymer electrodes with comparable specific capacitance and pseudocapacitive behavior as the bare polymer electrodes.
Abstract: Conducting polymers such as polyaniline and polypyrrole have been widely used as pseudocapacitive electrode materials for supercapacitors. However, their structural instability resulting from repea...
660 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a conductive polypyrrole (PPy) hydrogel was synthesized via an interfacial polymerization method, and the unique 3D porous nanostructure constructed by interconnected polymer nanospheres endows PPy hydrogels with good mechanical properties and high performance acting as supercapacitor electrodes.
Abstract: Electrochemically active conducting polymers are an important class of materials for applications in energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors, owing to their advantageous features of unique three-dimensional (3D) porous microstructure, high capacitive energy density, scalable synthesis and light weight. Here, we synthesized a nanostructured conductive polypyrrole (PPy) hydrogel via an interfacial polymerization method. The simple synthesis chemistry offers the conductive hydrogel tunable nanostructures and electrochemical performance, as well as scalable processability. Moreover, the unique 3D porous nanostructure constructed by interconnected polymer nanospheres endows PPy hydrogels with good mechanical properties and high performance acting as supercapacitor electrodes with a specific capacitance of ∼380 F g−1, excellent rate capability, and areal capacitance as high as ∼6.4 F cm−2 at a mass loading of 20 mg cm−2.
584 citations
TL;DR: A thin polymer shell helps V2O5 a lot and an excellent high-rate capability and ultrastable cycling up to 1000 cycles are demonstrated.
Abstract: A thin polymer shell helps V2O5 a lot. Short V2O5 nanobelts are grown directly on 3D graphite foam as a lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode material. A further coating of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin shell is the key to the high performance. An excellent high-rate capability and ultrastable cycling up to 1000 cycles are demonstrated.
429 citations
TL;DR: The scaffold designs that mimic the nano and micro features of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are presented as well, and composite and nanocomposite scaffolds are also reviewed.
Abstract: Scaffolds play a crucial role in tissue engineering. Biodegradable polymers with great processing flexibility are the predominant scaffolding materials. Synthetic biodegradable polymers with well-defined structure and without immunological concerns associated with naturally derived polymers are widely used in tissue engineering. The synthetic biodegradable polymers that are widely used in tissue engineering, including polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyphosphazenes, polyurethane, and poly (glycerol sebacate) are summarized in this article. New developments in conducting polymers, photoresponsive polymers, amino-acid-based polymers, enzymatically degradable polymers, and peptide-activated polymers are also discussed. In addition to chemical functionalization, the scaffold designs that mimic the nano and micro features of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are presented as well, and composite and nanocomposite scaffolds are also reviewed.
428 citations
TL;DR: Full supercapacitor devices based on the GF + Co3O4/PEDOT-MnO2 as positive electrodes exhibit the best performance compared to other three counterparts due to an optimal design of structure and a synergistic effect.
Abstract: We attempt to meet the general design requirements for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes by combining the strategies of lightweight substrate, porous nanostructure design, and conductivity modification. We fabricate a new type of 3D porous and thin graphite foams (GF) and use as the light and conductive substrates for the growth of metal oxide core/shell nanowire arrays to form integrated electrodes. The nanowire core is Co3O4, and the shell is a composite of conducting polymer (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT) and metal oxide (MnO2). To show the advantage of this integrated electrode design (viz., GF + Co3O4/PEDOT–MnO2 core/shell nanowire arrays), three other different less-integrated electrodes are also prepared for comparison. Full supercapacitor devices based on the GF + Co3O4/PEDOT–MnO2 as positive electrodes exhibit the best performance compared to other three counterparts due to an optimal design of structure and a synergistic effect.
411 citations
TL;DR: In this article, highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/graphene composites fabricated by in situ polymerization and their applications in a thermoelectric device and a platinum (Pt)-free dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) as energy harvesting systems.
Abstract: We report for the first time highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/graphene composites fabricated by in situ polymerization and their applications in a thermoelectric device and a platinum (Pt)-free dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) as energy harvesting systems. Graphene was dispersed in a solution of poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and polymerization was directly carried out by addition of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer to the dispersion. The content of the graphene was varied and optimized to give the highest electrical conductivity. The composite solution was ready to use without any reduction process because reduced graphene oxide was used. The fabricated film had a conductivity of 637 S·cm−1, corresponding to an enhancement of 41%, after the introduction of 3 wt.% graphene without any further complicated reduction processes of graphene being required. The highly conductive composite films were employed in an organic thermoelectric device, and the device showed a power factor of 45.7 μW·m−1K−2 which is 93% higher than a device based on pristine PEDOT:PSS. In addition, the highly conductive composite films were used in Pt-free DSSCs, showing an energy conversion efficiency of 5.4%, which is 21% higher than that of a DSSC based on PEDOT:PSS.
357 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that electroactive PANI and its derivatives show great promise in eliciting favorable responses from various cell lines that respond to electrical stimuli, and are therefore effective biomaterials for the engineering of electrically responsive biological tissues and organs.
334 citations
TL;DR: A review of the application of conducting polymers (CPs) for corrosion protection of metal alloys is presented in this paper, where different approaches have been developed for the use of CPs in protective coatings (dopants, composites, blends).
Abstract: Conducting polymers (CPs) such as polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy), and polythiophene (PTh) are used for the corrosion protection of metals and metal alloys. Several groups have reported diverse views about the corrosion protection by CPs and hence various mechanisms have been suggested to explain anticorrosion properties of CPs. These include anodic protection, controlled inhibitor release as well as barrier protection mechanisms. Different approaches have been developed for the use of CPs in protective coatings (dopants, composites, blends). A judicious choice of synthesis parameters leads to an improvement in the anticorrosion properties of the coatings prepared by CPs for metals and their alloys. This article is prepared as a review of the application of CPs for corrosion protection of metal alloys.
TL;DR: In this article, a three-dimensionalally interconnected hybrid hydrogel system based on carbon nanotube (CNT)-conductive polymer network architecture is reported for high-performance flexible lithium ion battery electrodes.
Abstract: High-performance flexible energy-storage devices have great potential as power sources for wearable electronics. One major limitation to the realization of these applications is the lack of flexible electrodes with excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties. Currently employed batteries and supercapacitors are mainly based on electrodes that are not flexible enough for these purposes. Here, a three-dimensionally interconnected hybrid hydrogel system based on carbon nanotube (CNT)-conductive polymer network architecture is reported for high-performance flexible lithium ion battery electrodes. Unlike previously reported conducting polymers (e.g., polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene), which are mechanically fragile and incompatible with aqueous solution processing, this interpenetrating network of the CNT-conducting polymer hydrogel exibits good mechanical properties, high conductivity, and facile ion transport, leading to facile electrode kinetics and high strain tolerance during electrode volume change. A high-rate capability for TiO2 and high cycling stability for SiNP electrodes are reported. Typically, the flexible TiO2 electrodes achieved a capacity of 76 mAh g–1 in 40 s of charge/discharge and a high areal capacity of 2.2 mAh cm–2 can be obtained for flexible SiNP-based electrodes at 0.1C rate. This simple yet efficient solution process is promising for the fabrication of a variety of high performance flexible electrodes.
TL;DR: In this article, an ink-jet printed graphene-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite film with high uniformity over a large area is presented.
TL;DR: Li2S is an attractive prelithiated cathode material with a high theoretical capacity of 1166 mA h g−1, which is far above that of its transition metal oxide/phosphate counterparts.
Abstract: Li2S is an attractive prelithiated cathode material with a high theoretical capacity of 1166 mA h g−1, which is far above that of its transition metal oxide/phosphate counterparts. Here, we demonstrate facile, in situ synthesis of Li2S–polypyrrole composites for use as high-performance Li2S cathodes. The N atoms in polypyrrole were found to possess favorable Li–N interaction with Li2S, which enables polypyrrole to bind strongly onto and cover the surface of Li2S to constrain intermediate polysulfides during cycling. Polypyrrole, being a conducting polymer, also helps to facilitate electronic conduction. Using the Li2S–polypyrrole composites as a cathode material, we demonstrate a high discharge capacity of 785 mA h g−1 of Li2S (∼1126 mA h g−1 of S) with stable cycling over prolonged 400 charge/discharge cycles.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reviewed four different groups of materials, doped metal oxides, thin metals, conducting polymers, and nanomaterials (including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and metal nanowires), that have been reported as transparent electrodes in organic optoelectronic materials.
Abstract: Transparent conductive electrodes are one of the essential components for organic optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaic cells and light-emitting diodes. Indium-tin oxide (ITO) is the most common transparent electrode in these devices due to its excellent optical and electrical properties. However, the manufacturing of ITO film requires precious raw materials and expensive processes, which limits their compatibility with mass production of large-area, low-cost devices. The optical/electrical properties of ITO are strongly dependent on the deposition processes and treatment conditions, whereas its brittleness and the potential damage to underlying films during deposition also present challenges for its use in flexible devices. Recently, several other transparent conductive materials, which have various degrees of success relative to commercial applications have been developed to address these issues. Starting from the basic properties of ITO and the effect of various ITO surface modification methods, here we review four different groups of materials, doped metal oxides, thin metals, conducting polymers, and nanomaterials (including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and metal nanowires), that have been reported as transparent electrodes in organic optoelectronic materials. Particular emphasis is given to their optical/electrical and other material properties, deposition techniques, and applications in organic optoelectronic devices.
TL;DR: In this paper, an epoxy coating with an organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposite as a corrosion inhibiting pigment applied over carbon steel grade ST37 was applied as a protective coating on carbon steel plates.
TL;DR: In this article, the use of conducting polymers as active materials in the positive electrodes of rechargeable aluminum-based batteries operating at room temperature was demonstrated, with electrode capacities at near-theoretical levels and Coulombic efficiencies approaching 100%.
Abstract: Demonstrated here is the use of conducting polymers as active materials in the positive electrodes of rechargeable aluminum-based batteries operating at room temperature. The battery chemistry is based on chloroaluminate ionic liquid electrolytes, which allow reversible stripping and plating of aluminum metal at the negative electrode. Characterization of electrochemically synthesized polypyrrole films revealed doping of the polymers with chloroaluminate anions. Cycling of the conducting polymer electrodes occurred via the electrochemical insertion and removal of these anions. Stable galvanostatic cycling of polypyrrole and polythiophene cells was demonstrated, with electrode capacities at near-theoretical levels (30–100 mAh g–1) and Coulombic efficiencies approaching 100%. The energy density of a sealed sandwich-type cell with polythiophene at the positive electrode was estimated to be 44 Wh kg–1 relative to the total mass of active components. This energy density is competitive with state-of-the-art bat...
TL;DR: The review focuses on the various organic coatings which have been investigated to improve neural interface electrodes and how they provide safe electrical stimulation of tissue while avoiding undesirable chemical reactions and cell damage.
Abstract: Traditional neuronal interfaces utilize metallic electrodes which in recent years have reached a plateau in terms of the ability to provide safe stimulation at high resolution or rather with high densities of microelectrodes with improved spatial selectivity. To achieve higher resolution it has become clear that reducing the size of electrodes is required to enable higher electrode counts from the implant device. The limitations of interfacing electrodes including low charge injection limits, mechanical mismatch and foreign body response can be addressed through the use of organic electrode coatings which typically provide a softer, more roughened surface to enable both improved charge transfer and lower mechanical mismatch with neural tissue. Coating electrodes with conductive polymers or carbon nanotubes offers a substantial increase in charge transfer area compared to conventional platinum electrodes. These organic conductors provide safe electrical stimulation of tissue while avoiding undesirable chemical reactions and cell damage. However, the mechanical properties of conductive polymers are not ideal, as they are quite brittle. Hydrogel polymers present a versatile coating option for electrodes as they can be chemically modified to provide a soft and conductive scaffold. However, the in vivo chronic inflammatory response of these conductive hydrogels remains unknown. A more recent approach proposes tissue engineering the electrode interface through the use of encapsulated neurons within hydrogel coatings. This approach may provide a method for activating tissue at the cellular scale, however several technological challenges must be addressed to demonstrate feasibility of this innovative idea. The review focuses on the various organic coatings which have been investigated to improve neural interface electrodes.
TL;DR: In this paper, a new insight into the structure of the early products of aniline oxidation based on their Raman spectra is reported, and the influence of smooth gold support on the Raman spectrum of the films has also been studied.
TL;DR: A conductive, smart hydrogel, which is thermoplastic and self-healing owing to its unique properties of reversible liquefaction and gelation in response to thermal stimuli is reported, potentially useful in a variety of biomedical applications such as electronic skin.
Abstract: Conductive hydrogels are a class of composite materials that consist of hydrated and conducting polymers. Due to the mechanical similarity to biointerfaces such as human skin, conductive hydrogels have been primarily utilized as bioelectrodes, specifically neuroprosthetic electrodes, in an attempt to replace metallic electrodes by enhancing the mechanical properties and long-term stability of the electrodes within living organisms. Here, we report a conductive, smart hydrogel, which is thermoplastic and self-healing owing to its unique properties of reversible liquefaction and gelation in response to thermal stimuli. In addition, we demonstrated that our conductive hydrogel could be utilized to fabricate bendable, stretchable, and patternable electrodes directly on human skin. The excellent mechanical and thermal properties of our hydrogel make it potentially useful in a variety of biomedical applications such as electronic skin.
TL;DR: A simple process is introduced that overcomes drawbacks and results in vertically directed high aspect ratio poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanofibers possessing a high conductivity of 130 S/cm.
Abstract: Nanostructures of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) with large surface areas enhance the performance of energy storage devices such as electrochemical supercapacitors. However, until now, high aspect ratio nanofibers of this polymer could only be deposited from the vapor-phase, utilizing extrinsic hard templates such as electrospun nanofibers and anodized aluminum oxide. These routes result in low conductivity and require postsynthetic template removal, conditions that stifle the development of conducting polymer electronics. Here we introduce a simple process that overcomes these drawbacks and results in vertically directed high aspect ratio poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanofibers possessing a high conductivity of 130 S/cm. Nanofibers deposit as a freestanding mechanically robust film that is easily processable into a supercapacitor without using organic binders or conductive additives and is characterized by excellent cycling stability, retaining more than 92% of its initial capacitance after 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. Deposition of nanofibers on a hard carbon fiber paper current collector affords a highly efficient and stable electrode for a supercapacitor exhibiting gravimetric capacitance of 175 F/g and 94% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a morphological model to explain the influence of co-solvents in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and showed that the simple addition of a suitable wt% of a cosolvent, either ethylene glycol (EG) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), in PEDOT can significantly enhance the performance of hybrid solar cells.
Abstract: Conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is gaining technological importance for the fabrication of organic and organic–inorganic heterostructure devices. The conductivity of PEDOT:PSS can be improved by the addition of co-solvents. Here, we show that the simple addition of a suitable wt% of a co-solvent, either ethylene glycol (EG) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), in PEDOT:PSS can significantly enhance the performance of hybrid solar cells. We provide a morphological model to explain the influence of the co-solvents in PEDOT:PSS, in which the co-solvent modifies the internal crystalline ordering of individual PEDOT nanocrystals that increases the crystal size and forms closely packed nanocrystals, and it also facilitates rearrangement of PSS that reduces its surface chain networks to enhance the polymer conductivity and hybrid solar cell properties. A hybrid solar cell made of EG 7 wt% modified PEDOT:PSS on planar Si exhibits an exceptionally high power conversion efficiency exceeding 12% for the first time.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported on the synthesis of intrinsically conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with several counter-ions, ClO4, PF6 and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BTFMSI), by electro-polymerization and its thermoelectric properties.
Abstract: This work reports on the synthesis of the intrinsically conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with several counter-ions, ClO4, PF6 and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BTFMSI), by electro-polymerization and its thermoelectric properties. We show that, depending on the counter-ion size, the thermoelectric efficiency of PEDOT can be increased up to two orders of magnitude. A further chemical reduction with hydrazine optimizes the power factor (PF). By changing the counter-ions, we were able to increase the electrical conductivity (σ) of PEDOT by a factor of three, while the Seebeck coefficient remains at the same order of magnitude in the three polymers. The best thermoelectric efficiency has been observed in PEDOT:BTFMSI. From the measurement of the Seebeck coefficient and σ, a PF of 147 μW m−1 K−2 has been deduced, while the measured thermal conductivity is κ = 0.19 W m−1 K−1, resulting in a ZT ∼ 0.22 at room temperature, one of the highest values reported in the literature for polymers. The increase in σ with the change of the counter-ion is mainly due to the stretching of the polymer chains. In this work, we provide a chemical route to further improve ZT in polymers and demonstrate a method of synthesis based on the electro-polymerization on gold. After removing the gold layer, a very thin semiconducting polymer film can be isolated.
TL;DR: The surface wettability of conducting polymers is highly dependent on the intrinsic hydrophobicity of materials and the roughness geometry as mentioned in this paper and the surface morphology at micro- or a nanoscale with a surface wetability going from superhydrophilicity to superoleophobicity.
TL;DR: In this paper, a binder-free layered PANI/polyaniline composite film was prepared by an environmentally friendly and facile two-step route for the first time.
Abstract: Binder-free layered graphene/polyaniline composite film was prepared by an environmentally friendly and facile two-step route for the first time. Firstly, a sandwich-structured PANI/graphene/PANI nanosheet was prepared in situ from aqueous solution, followed an electrophoretic deposition process. By observations of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), it conforms that the graphene sheet is uniformly covered by an ultralthin PANI film (3.7 nm). Raman spectra, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are jointly used to confirm strong π–π electron and hydrogen bond interaction in the nanosheets. The layered PANI/graphene composite film exhibits an excellent gravimetric capacitance of 384 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 which is much higher than many other hybrid supercapacitors reported to date. It maintains its capacity up to 84% over 1000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g−1. This preparation method may provide a promising strategy for preparation of graphene-based composites with other conducting polymers and binder-free film electrodes.
TL;DR: The developed single-crystal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene) (PEDOT) nanowires with ultrahigh conductivity using liquid-bridge-mediated nanotransfer printing with vapor phase polymerization can be attributed to improved carrier mobility in PEDOT Nanowires.
Abstract: We developed single-crystal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene) (PEDOT) nanowires with ultrahigh conductivity using liquid-bridge-mediated nanotransfer printing with vapor phase polymerization. The single-crystal PEDOT nanowires are formed from 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers that are self-assembled and crystallized during vapor phase polymerization process within nanoscale channels of a mold having FeCl3 catalysts. These PEDOT nanowires, aligned according to the pattern in the mold, are then directly transferred to specific positions on a substrate to generate a nanowire array by a direct printing process. The PEDOT nanowires have closely packed single-crystalline structures with orthorhombic lattice units. The conductivity of the single-crystal PEDOT nanowires is an average of 7619 S/cm with the highest up to 8797 S/cm which remarkably exceeds literature values of PEDOT nanostructures/thin films. Such distinct conductivity enhancement of single-crystal PEDOT nanowires can be attributed to improved carrier mobility in PEDOT nanowires. To demonstrate usefulness of single-crystal PEDOT nanowires, we fabricated an organic nanowire field-effect transistor array contacting the ultrahigh conductive PEDOT nanowires as metal electrodes.
TL;DR: In this paper, the synthesis of polyaniline nanofibers in the presence of varying amounts of zinc oxide has been reported, in which the homogeneous PANI nanofiber were prepared through template approach, and the ZnO nanoparticles were used as template.
Abstract: A novel route for the synthesis of polyaniline nanofibers in the presence of varying amounts of zinc oxide has been reported in this paper. The homogeneous PANI nanofibers were prepared through template approach, in which the ZnO nanoparticles were used as template. Structural, optical and morphological analysis of synthesized nanofibers was carried out using X-ray diffraction, UV–vis, IR spectroscopy and FESEM techniques. The thick films of the synthesized polyaniline powder were deposited on alumina substrate and their sensing response to ammonia gas was investigated. Optimum sensing response was achieved with PANI nanofibers synthesized in the presence of 30 wt% ZnO powder. The sensing response of fabricated sensor was proportional to the ammonia gas concentration and exhibited excellent selectivity toward ammonia gas.
TL;DR: In this paper, an experimental investigation on a sodium ion conducting polymer blend electrolyte system based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), complexed with NaBr salt is presented.
TL;DR: Electrical stimulation demonstrated that PC12 cells attached and extended longer neurites when cultured on NCG/PPy composite gels with DBSA dopant, suggesting these materials are promising candidates for applications in nerve regeneration, carbon capture, catalyst supports, and many others.
Abstract: Nanostructured conductive polymers can offer analogous environments for extracellular matrix and induce cellular responses by electric stimulation, however, such materials often lack mechanical strength and tend to collapse under small stresses. We prepared electrically conductive nanoporous materials by coating nanoporous cellulose gels (NCG) with polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles, which were synthesized in situ from pyrrole monomers supplied as vapor. The resulting NCG/PPy composite hydrogels were converted to aerogels by drying with supercritical CO2, giving a density of 0.41–0.53 g cm−3, nitrogen adsorption surface areas of 264–303 m2 g−1, and high mechanical strength. The NCG/PPy composite hydrogels exhibited an electrical conductivity of up to 0.08 S cm−1. In vitro studies showed that the incorporation of PPy into an NCG enhances the adhesion and proliferation of PC12 cells. Electrical stimulation demonstrated that PC12 cells attached and extended longer neurites when cultured on NCG/PPy composite gels with DBSA dopant. These materials are promising candidates for applications in nerve regeneration, carbon capture, catalyst supports, and many others.
TL;DR: In this article, the use of carbon nanoparticles in polymer foams has been investigated, focusing on the important aspects of foam preparation, the main results found in the literature about conductive polymer composites containing carbon nanoparticle, as well as the main polymer foaming processes and types of foams, with special focus being given to the electrical and transport properties of these materials.