Potentiometric properties of polypyrrole bilayers

Electrocoating Polypyrrole on Gold-Wire Electrode as Potential Mediator Membrane Candidate for Anionic Surfactant Electrode Sensor

The development of polypyrrole as a potential mediator membrane candidate for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sensor electrode has been investigated. The polypyrrole membrane was synthesized electrochemically from the pyrrole and coated at the surface of a 1.0 mm diameter of the gold-wire electrode. Electropolymerization of pyrrole and coating of the polypyrrole produced was performed by cyclic voltammetry technique in the electrochemical cell containing supporting electrolyte of 0.01 M NaClO4 with an optimum potential range of -0.9 V–1.0 V, the scanning rate of 100 mV/s, an electric current of 2 mA, and running of potential scanning of 10 cycles. By using the similar optimal parameters of cyclic voltammetry, electropolymerization of 0.01 M pyrrole solution containing 0.001 M SDS also produces a polypyrrole membrane coated at the gold-wire electrode surface. These coated electrodes have the potential response-ability toward DS- anions in the concentration range of 10-7 M–10-5 M with a limit of detection of 10-7 M and sensitivity of electrode of 9.9 mV/decade. This finding shows that the SDS solution’s role is as supporting electrolyte and also as a source of DS- dopant during the pyrrole electropolymerization processes. Dopants are trapped in the polymer membrane during the electrochemical formation of polypyrrole and role as ionophores for DS- anion in the analyte solution. A potential response to the electrode phenomena is excellent basic scientific information for further synthesis of conducting polymer and development of conducting polymer-coated wire electrode model, especially in the construction of ion-selective electrode (ISE) for the determination of anionic surfactants with those models.

Band gap modulation in polythiophene and polypyrrole-based systems

In this paper, the structural and electronic properties of polythiophene and polyprrrole-based systems have been investigated using first-principles calculations both in periodic and oligomer forms. Of particular interest is the band gap modulation through substitutions and bilayer formation. Specifically, S has been substituted by Se and Te in polythiophene, leading to polyseleophene and polytellurophene, respectively, and N has been substituted by P and As in polypyrrole. The values obtained of the binding energy suggest that all the systems studied can be realized experimentally. Stacking (bilayer formation) of pure polythiophene, polypyrrole and their derivatives leads to linear suppression of the band gap or HOMO-LUMO gap as a function of the stacking. Mixed bilayers, including one formed from polythiophene on top of polypyrrole, have also been considered. Overall, a wide range of band gaps can be achieved through substitutions and stacking. Hybrid (B3LYP) calculations also suggest the same trend in the band gap as PBE calculations. Trends in the binding energy are similar for both periodic and molecular calculations. In addition, Γ-point phonon calculations were performed in order to check the stability of selected systems.

Junction-less reference electrode for potentiometric measurements obtained by buffering pH in a conducting polymer matrix

A reference electrode for potentiometric measurements based on conducting polymers (CP) doped with pH buffering ligands is described. Both the CPs and doping ligands are selected and adjusted in such a way that possible ionic and redox sensitivity is hampered, while the pH buffering property of the CP film is exposed. In this way, the electric potential drop at the conducting polymer|solution interface is stabilized and close to constant over a certain pH range. The electrode behaves as a pseudo-reference electrode in amphiprotic solvents or their mixtures, e.g. water-alcohol mixtures. For the first time titration of sulfates with lead(ii) in water-methanol solution using two "plastic" electrodes, CP-based Pb(2+)-sensitive indicator and CP-based reference electrode, is shown. Because the electrode is junction-less it may easily be miniaturized and maintained and thus may serve in frontier applications of sensors.