Electrochemical synthesis and optical properties of helical polyaniline nanofibers

Performance Enhancement of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell through Carbon Nanofibers Grown In Situ on Carbon Paper

We developed an integrated gas diffusion layer (GDL) for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells by growing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in situ on carbon paper via the electro-polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) on carbon paper followed by a subsequent carbonization treatment process. The CNF/carbon paper showed a microporous structure and a significantly increased pore volume compared to commercial carbon paper. By utilizing this CNF/carbon paper in a PEM fuel cell, it was found that the cell with CNF/carbon paper had superior performance compared to the commercial GDL at both high and low humidity conditions, and its power density was as high as 1.21 W cm^-2 at 100% relative humidity, which is 26% higher than that of a conventional gas diffusion layer (0.9 W cm^-2). The significant performance enhancement was attributed to a higher pore volume and porosity of the CNF/carbon paper, which improved gas diffusion in the GDL. In addition, the superior performance of the cell with CNF/carbon paper at low relative humidity demonstrated that it had better water retention than the commercial GDL. This study provides a novel and facile method for the surface modification of GDLs to improve the performance of PEM fuel cells. The CNF/carbon paper with a microporous structure has suitable hydrophobicity and lower through-plane resistance, which makes it promising as an advanced substrate for GDLs in fuel cell applications.

Cost Effective Chemical Oxidative Synthesis of Soluble and Electroactive Polyaniline Salt and Its Application as Anticorrosive Agent for Steel

The cost effective synthesis of electroactive polyaniline (PANI) while retaining its desirable properties is one of the most debatable and challenging tasks for researchers in the field. Herein, we report a cost effective inverse emulsion polymerization pathway for the synthesis of soluble and processable PANI salt by using diesel as a novel dispersion medium. Different reaction parameters and their effects on the properties and yield of polyaniline were optimized. The polymer exhibited a highly porous morphology and was found to be stable up to 417 °C. The PANI salt showed good solubility in common solvents, such as chloroform, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and in a 1:3 mixtures by volume of 2-propanol and toluene. The coating of the synthesized PANI salt on stainless steel has shown good corrosion resistant behavior in marine water by reducing the corrosion rate to 67.9% as compared to uncoated stainless steel.

Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Modified Electrodes by Pulsed Electrodeposition of Pt/PANI Nanocomposite

In this study, the modification of glassy carbon electrodes by potentiostatic pulsed deposition of platinum nanoparticles and potentiostatic pulsed polymerization of polyaniline nanofibers was investigated. During the preparation of the nano-composite materials, the control of the potentiostatic pulsed deposition and potentiostatic pulsed polymerization parameters, such as pulse potential, pulse width time, duty cycle, and platinum precursor concentration allowed the optimization of the size, shape, and distribution of the deposited Pt nanoparticles. It is noteworthy that the polymerization method, cyclic voltammetry method, or potentiostatic pulsed polymerization method show an important effect in the morphology of the deposited polyaniline (PANI) film. The obtained modified electrodes, with highly uniform and well dispersed platinum nanoparticles, exhibit good electrocatalytic properties towards methanol oxidation.

Ultrasensitive Self-Powered Solar-Blind Deep-Ultraviolet Photodetector Based on All-Solid-State Polyaniline/MgZnO Bilayer

A high sensitivity self-powered solar-blind photodetector is successfully constructed based on the polyaniline/MgZnO bilayer. The maximum responsivity of the photodetector is 160 μA W^-1 at 250 nm under 0 V bias. The device also exhibits a high on/off ratio of ≈10⁴ under 250 nm illumination at a relatively weak light intensity of 130 μW cm^-2 without any power.

Block copolymer-guided fabrication of shuttle-like polyaniline nanoflowers with radiating whiskers for application in supercapacitors

Superfine shuttle-shaped polyaniline (PANI) nanoflowers with radiating whiskers have been prepared by block copolymer-assisted microemulsion method, and exhibited high rate capability and good cycling performance.