Journal of Composites Science

Research

16 pages, 4408 KiB

Open AccessArticle

‘In-Situ’ Preparation of Carbonaceous Conductive Composite Materials Based on PEDOT and Biowaste for Flexible Pseudocapacitor Application

by Francisco J. González, Andreina Montesinos, Javier Araujo-Morera, Raquel Verdejo and Mario Hoyos

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(3), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4030087 - 3 Jul 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2151

Abstract

Composite materials of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/activated carbon (AC) were prepared by ‘in-situ’ polymerization and subsequently deposited by spray-coating onto a flexible electrolyte prepared in our laboratories. Two activated carbons were tested: a commercial activated carbon and a lab-made activated carbon from brewer’s spent grain [...] Read more.

Composite materials of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/activated carbon (AC) were prepared by ‘in-situ’ polymerization and subsequently deposited by spray-coating onto a flexible electrolyte prepared in our laboratories. Two activated carbons were tested: a commercial activated carbon and a lab-made activated carbon from brewer’s spent grain (BSG). The porous and spongy structure of the composite increased the specific surface area, which helps to enhance the energy storage density. This procedure to develop conductive composite materials using AC prepared from biowaste has the potential to be implemented for the preparation of polymer-based conductive inks for further applications as electrodes in pseudocapacitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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19 pages, 4708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Montmorillonite/PEDOT-PSS and Diatomite/PEDOT-PSS Hybrid Materials. Study of Electrochemical Properties in Acid Medium

by Mohamed Kiari, Raúl Berenguer, Francisco Montilla and Emilia Morallón

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(2), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4020051 - 8 May 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3029

Abstract

The hybridization of clay minerals with conducting polymers receives great interest for different potential applications, including environmental remediation. This work studies and compares the electrochemical properties of two different clays, montmorillonite (Mont) and diatomite (Diat), and their respective clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrid materials in H [...] Read more.

The hybridization of clay minerals with conducting polymers receives great interest for different potential applications, including environmental remediation. This work studies and compares the electrochemical properties of two different clays, montmorillonite (Mont) and diatomite (Diat), and their respective clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrid materials in H₂SO₄ medium. The hybrid materials were prepared by electropolymerization of EDOT in the presence of PSS. The physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of both clays were analyzed by different techniques, and the influence of the clay properties on electropolymerization and the electroactivity of the resulting clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrids was investigated. Specifically, the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox probe and the oxidation of diclofenac, as a model pharmaceutical emerging pollutant, were used to test the electron transfer capability and oxidative response, respectively, of the clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrids. The results demonstrate that, despite its low electrical conductivity, the Mont is an electroactive material itself with good electron-transfer capability. Conversely, the Diat shows no electroactivity. The hybridization with PEDOT generally enhances the electroactivity of the clays, but the clay properties affect the electropolymerization efficiency and hybrids electroactivity, so the Mont/PEDOT displays improved electrochemical properties. It is demonstrated that clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrids exhibit diclofenac oxidation capability and diclofenac concentration sensitivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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19 pages, 6179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dispersion and Localization Behavior of Modified MWCNTs in Immiscible Polymer Blends of Polystyrene and Polybutadiene and in Corresponding Nanostructured Block Copolymers

by Ulrike Staudinger, Lothar Jakisch and Luise Hilbig

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4020040 - 21 Apr 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

The influence of carbon nanotube (CNT) modification on the dispersion and localization behavior of the CNTs in immiscible blends of polystyrene (PS) and polybutadiene (PB), and in the nanostructured morphology of a star-shaped styrene-butadiene based block copolymer (BCP), was studied to form a [...] Read more.

The influence of carbon nanotube (CNT) modification on the dispersion and localization behavior of the CNTs in immiscible blends of polystyrene (PS) and polybutadiene (PB), and in the nanostructured morphology of a star-shaped styrene-butadiene based block copolymer (BCP), was studied to form a basis for the development of functional materials with defined electrical property profiles. Unmodified multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) were dispersed in PS, PB and PS/PB blends by solution mixing. Additionally, MWCNTs were functionalized with n-octadecylamine and monoamino-terminated polystyrene to increase the compatibility between the homopolymers and the nanofiller. The MWCNT dispersion and the blend morphology formation were studied using transmission light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The MWCNT dispersion could be significantly improved by the modification of the MWCNTs. All MWCNT types were found to preferably localize in the PS phase of the PS/PB blend. However, only blends containing unmodified MWCNTs were electrically conductive. Similar effects were found in BCP/MWCNT composites. The BCP was already electrically conductive with a filler content of 0.1 wt % of unmodified MWCNTs. The stress–strain behavior of the BCP was slightly influenced by MWCNT addition and CNT modification. The dispersability of MWCNTs was significantly improved by CNT functionalization, which indicates a strong polymer-filler interaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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12 pages, 1552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polymeric Composites Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose Cryogel and Conductive Polymers: Synthesis and Characterization

by Sahin Demirci, S. Duygu Sutekin and Nurettin Sahiner

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(2), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4020033 - 29 Mar 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3076

Abstract

In this study, a super porous polymeric network prepared from a natural polymer, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), was used as a scaffold in the preparation of conductive polymers such as poly(Aniline) (PANi), poly(Pyrrole) (PPy), and poly(Thiophene) (PTh). CMC–conductive polymer composites were characterized by Fourier [...] Read more.

In this study, a super porous polymeric network prepared from a natural polymer, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), was used as a scaffold in the preparation of conductive polymers such as poly(Aniline) (PANi), poly(Pyrrole) (PPy), and poly(Thiophene) (PTh). CMC–conductive polymer composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques, and conductivity measurements. The highest conductivity was observed as 4.36 × 10⁻⁴ ± 4.63 × 10⁻⁵ S·cm⁻¹ for CMC–PANi cryogel composite. The changes in conductivity of prepared CMC cryogel and its corresponding PAN, PPy, and PTh composites were tested against HCl and NH₃ vapor. The changes in conductivity values of CMC cryogel upon HCl and NH₃ vapor treatment were found to increase 1.5- and 2-fold, respectively, whereas CMC–PANi composites showed a 143-fold increase in conductivity upon HCl and a 12-fold decrease in conductivity upon NH₃ treatment, suggesting the use of natural polymer–conductive polymer composites as sensor for these gases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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14 pages, 2413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Conductive Polymers Embedded Macro Porous Pei and Ionic Liquid Form of Pei Cryogels for Potential Conductometric Sensor Application to CO₂

by Sahin Demirci and Nurettin Sahiner

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4010027 - 13 Mar 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2458

Abstract

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) cryogels with interconnected superporous morphology were synthesized via the cryopolymerization technique. Then, conductive polymers, poly(Aniline) (PANi), poly(Pyrrole) (PPy), and poly(Thiophene) (PTh) were prepared within these PEI cryogels. Then, the conductive polymer embedding PEI composites’ characterization was carried morphologically using scanning electron [...] Read more.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) cryogels with interconnected superporous morphology were synthesized via the cryopolymerization technique. Then, conductive polymers, poly(Aniline) (PANi), poly(Pyrrole) (PPy), and poly(Thiophene) (PTh) were prepared within these PEI cryogels. Then, the conductive polymer embedding PEI composites’ characterization was carried morphologically using scanning electron microscope (SEM) by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FT-IR) spectrometer, and by means of electrical conductivity measurements using an electrometer. Among all the prepared cryogel conductive polymer composites, the highest value in terms of conductivity was determined for PEI/PANi cryogel composites with 4.80 × 10⁻³ S.cm⁻¹. Afterward, to prepare polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) forms of PEI and PEI/PANi composites. To assess the effect of anions on the conductivities of the prepared composites, PEI-based cryogels were anion ex-changed after protonation with HCl by treatment of aqueous solutions of sodium dicyanamide (Na⁺[N(CN)₂]⁻), ammonium hexafluorophosphate (NH₄⁺[PF₆]⁻), sodium tetrafluoroborate (Na⁺[BF₄]⁻), and potassium thiocyanate (K⁺[SCN]⁻), separately. Furthermore, PEI-based cryogel composites and their PIL forms were tested as a sensor for CO₂ gas. The higher conductivity changes were observed on bare PEI cryogel and PEI⁺[BF4]⁻ PIL cryogels with 1000-fold decrease on conductivity upon 240 min CO₂ exposure. The sensitivity and recovery percent of bare PEI and PEI⁺[BF₄]⁻ PIL cryogels were shown almost the same with a two-fold decrease in the presence of 0.009 mole of CO₂ gas, and approximately 30% recovery after the fifth consecutive reuse. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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9 pages, 3153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dielectric Properties of All-Organic Coatings: Comparison of PEDOT and PANI in Epoxy Matrices

by Vanesa Yuste-Sanchez, Francisco Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Mario Hoyos, Miguel A. López Manchado and Raquel Verdejo

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4010026 - 11 Mar 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2673

Abstract

The technological demands imposed on dielectrics and electrical insulation materials are being increasing with the transition from traditional to smart grids. Epoxy resin/conductive polymer (CP) blends with high dielectric permittivity have been prepared by means of a straightforward methodology. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polyaniline [...] Read more.

The technological demands imposed on dielectrics and electrical insulation materials are being increasing with the transition from traditional to smart grids. Epoxy resin/conductive polymer (CP) blends with high dielectric permittivity have been prepared by means of a straightforward methodology. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polyaniline (PANI), doped with p-tosylate and ammonium peroxide sulfate (APS), respectively, were synthesized and blended with an epoxy matrix. The addition of 3 wt % of PEDOT and PANI results in permittivity values of 68.9 and 9.5, respectively at 0.1 Hz—1300 and 111 times higher than pure resin. Hence, PEDOT is more effective than PANI at improving the permittivity of the epoxy resin. Moreover, the material retains the electrical insulation of the resin and exhibits a slight increase in thermal conductivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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9 pages, 2113 KiB

Open AccessArticle

UV-Cured Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Diacrylate/Carbon Nanostructure Thin Films. Preparation, Characterization, and Electrical Properties

by Panagiotis Loginos, Anastasios Patsidis and Vasilios Georgakilas

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4010004 - 1 Jan 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3866

Abstract

Carbon nanoallotropes such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and their derivatives have been combined with a plethora of polymers in the last years to develop new composite materials with interesting properties and applications. However, the area of photopolymer composites with carbon nanostructures has not [...] Read more.

Carbon nanoallotropes such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and their derivatives have been combined with a plethora of polymers in the last years to develop new composite materials with interesting properties and applications. However, the area of photopolymer composites with carbon nanostructures has not been analogously explored. In the present article, we study the photopolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA) enriched with different carbon nanoallotropes like graphene, pristine and chemically modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs and fCNTs), and a hybrid of graphene and CNTs. The products were characterized by several microscopic and spectroscopic techniques and the electrical conductivity was studied as a function of the concentrations of carbon nanoallotropes. In general, stable thin films were produced with a concentration of carbon nanostructures up to 8.5%, although the addition of carbon nanostructures in PEGDA decreases the degree of photopolymerization, and PEDGA/carbon nanostructure composites showed electrical conductivity at a relatively low percentage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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21 pages, 2804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smart Thermomechanochemical Composite Materials Driven by Different Forms of Electromagnetic Radiation

by Kevin Riberi, Silvestre Bongiovanni Abel, María V. Martinez, María A. Molina, Claudia R. Rivarola, Diego F. Acevedo, Rebeca Rivero, Emma Antonia Cuello, Romina Gramaglia and Cesar A. Barbero

J. Compos. Sci. 2020, 4(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs4010003 - 1 Jan 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3052

Abstract

Photo-thermo-mechanochemical (P-T-MCh) nanocomposites provide a mechanical and/or chemical output (MCh) in response to a photonic (P) input, with the thermal (T) flux being the coupling factor. The nanocomposite combines a photon absorbing nanomaterial with a thermosensitive hydrogel matrix. Conjugated (absorbing in the near [...] Read more.

Photo-thermo-mechanochemical (P-T-MCh) nanocomposites provide a mechanical and/or chemical output (MCh) in response to a photonic (P) input, with the thermal (T) flux being the coupling factor. The nanocomposite combines a photon absorbing nanomaterial with a thermosensitive hydrogel matrix. Conjugated (absorbing in the near infrared (NIR, 750–850 nm) wavelength range) polymer (polyaniline, PANI) nanostructures are dispersed in cross-linked thermosensitive (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM) hydrogel matrices, giving the nanocomposite P-T-MCh properties. Since PANI is a conductive polymer, electromagnetic radiation (ER) such as radiofrequency (30 kHz) and microwaves (2.4 GHz) could also be used as an input. The alternating electromagnetic field creates eddy currents in the PANI, which produces heat through the Joule effect. A new kind of “product” nanocomposite is then produced, where ER drives the mechanochemical properties of the material through thermal coupling (electromagnetic radiation thermomechanochemical, ER-T-MCh). Both optical absorption and conductivity of PANI depend on its oxidation and protonation state. Therefore, the ER-T-MCh materials are able to react to the surroundings properties (pH, redox potential) becoming a smart (electromagnetic radiation thermomechanochemical) (sER-T-MCh) material. The volume changes of the sER-T-MCh materials are reversible since the size and shape is recovered by cooling. No noticeable damage was observed after several cycles. The mechanical properties of the composite materials can be set by changing the hydrogel matrix. Four methods of material fabrication are described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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10 pages, 3466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Designed Conducting Polymer Composites That Facilitate Long-Lived, Light-Driven Oxygen and Hydrogen Evolution from Water in a Photoelectrochemical Concentration Cell (PECC)

by Mohammed Alsultan, Khalid Zainulabdeen, Pawel Wagner, Gerhard F. Swiegers and Holly Warren

J. Compos. Sci. 2019, 3(4), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs3040108 - 14 Dec 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2092

Abstract

Light-driven water-splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen from water is typically carried out in an electrochemical cell with an external voltage greater than 1.23 V applied between the electrodes. In this work, we examined the use of a concentration/chemical bias as a means [...] Read more.

Light-driven water-splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen from water is typically carried out in an electrochemical cell with an external voltage greater than 1.23 V applied between the electrodes. In this work, we examined the use of a concentration/chemical bias as a means of facilitating water-splitting under light illumination without the need for such an externally applied voltage. Such a concentration bias was created by employing a pH differential in the liquid electrolytes within the O₂-generating anode half-cell and the H₂-generating cathode half-cell. A novel, stretchable, highly ion-conductive polyacrylamide CsCl hydrogel was developed to connect the two half-cells. The key feature of the cell was the half-cell electrodes, which comprised thin-film conducting polymer composites that were previously designed to maximize light-driven catalysis at moderate pH. Upon being connected with the hydrogel in the presence of light irradiation (0.25 sun intensity on each electrode), the half-cells spontaneously produced hydrogen and oxygen from water, without the need for an externally applied voltage bias greater than 1.23 V. The cell operated reliably and efficiently for 14 h of continuous testing. These results demonstrate the fundamental feasibility of light-driven water-splitting in a photoelectrochemical concentration cell when employing electrodes that operate efficiently at moderate pH, even with low levels of light illumination. The designed conducting polymer composites proved ideal in that regard. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Conductive Polymer Composites)

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