Processible nanostructured materials with electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility: Preparation and properties of maghemite polyaniline nanocomposite films

We here present a versatile process for the preparation of maghemite/polyaniline (gamma-Fe2O3/ PAn) nanocomposite films with macroscopic processibility, electrical conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility. The gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are coated and the PAn chains are doped by anionic surfactants of omega-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) phosphate (PEOPA), 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), and 10-camphorsulfonic acid (CSA). Both the coated gamma-Fe2O3 and the doped PAn are soluble in common organic solvents, and casting of the homogeneous solutions gives free-standing nanocomposite films with gamma-Fe2O3 contents up to similar to 50 wt %. The morphology of the gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. The gamma-Fe2O3/PAn films prepared from chloroform/m-cresol solutions of DBSA-coated gamma-Fe2O3 and CSA-doped PAn are conductive (sigma = 82-237 S/cm) and superpapamagnetic, exhibiting no hysteresis at room temperature. The zero-field-cooled magnetization experiment reveals that the nanocomposite containing 20.8 wt % gamma-Fe2O3 has a blocking temperature (T-b) in the temperature region of 63-83 K.

Self-gelatinizable graft copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) with 4-vinylpyridine as an immobilization matrix for the construction of a tyrosinase-based amperometric biosensor

A tyrosinase-based amperometric biosensor using a self-gelatinizable graft copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) with 4-vinylpyridine (PVA-g-PVP) as an immobilization matrix was constructed. The 4-vinylpyridine component of PVA-g-PVP enhances the adherence to a glassy carbon electrode surface. The content of 4-vinylpyridine in this immobilization matrix plays a key role in retaining the activity of tyrosinase. A simple, milder method was adopted by simply syringing the copolymer-tyrosinase aqueous solution on to the electrode surface and allowing water to evaporate at 4 degrees C in a refrigerator. Several parameters, including copolymer composition; pH, applied potential and enzyme membrane composition, ware optimized. The enzyme membrane composition can be varied to obtain higher sensitivity or a wider linear detection range. The biosensor was used for the determination of phenol, p-cresol and catechol. The biosensor exhibited excellent reproducibility, stability and sensitive response and can be used in flow injection analysis. The biosensor showed an extended linear range in hydrophilic organic solvents and it can be used in monitoring organic reaction processes. The analytical performance demonstrated this immobilization matrix is suitable for the immobilization of tyrosinase.

Soluble and colorless polyimides from alicyclic diamines

A series of novel polyimides was synthesized from alicyclic diamines and various aromatic dianhydrides by one-step polymerization in m-cresol without a catalyst. The polymerization was conducted for 4 hours with refluxing, which was enough to obtain the polymers with high molecular weight. The inherent viscosities of the resulting polyimides were in the range of 0.30 similar to 1.29 dL/g. The prepared polyimides showed excellent thermal stabilities and good solubility. All the polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents such as chloroform, tetrachloroethane (TCE), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), etc and the glass transition temperatures were observed at 199 to 311 degrees C. UV-visible spectra were obtained to measure the transparency of polymer films. All the polymers showed high transmission above 90% in the wavelength of 400 similar to 700 nm.

Synthesis and properties of optically active aromatic polyimides derived from optically pure 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol

A series of new optically active aromatic polyimides containing axially dissymmetric 1,1'-binaphthalene-2,2-diyl units were prepared from optically pure (R)-(+)-or (S)-(-)-2,2'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)-1,1'-binaphthalene dianhydrides and various aromatic diamines via a conventional two-step procedure that included ring-opening polycondensation and chemical cyclodehydration. The optically pure isomer of dianhydride was prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of optically pure (R)-(+)or (S)-(-)1,1'-bi-2-naphthol with 4-nitrophthalonitrile in aprotic polar solvent and subsequent hydrolysis of the resultant tetranitrile derivatives, followed by the dehydration of the corresponding tetracarboxylic acids to obtain the dianhydrides. These polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and m-cresol, etc., and have glass transition temperatures of 251-296 degrees C, and 5% weight loss occurs not lower than 480 degrees C. The specific rotations of the optically active polyimides ranged from +196 degrees to +263 degrees, and the optical stability and chiroptical properties of them were also studied. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Organic acid doped polyaniline derivatives

Soluble poly (o-toluidine) (POT), poly(o-anisidine) (PAs) and poly (o-chloroaniline) (PCAn) were doped with camphorsulfonic acid (CSA). The conductivity and UV-Vis spectra of the CSA-doped POT, PAs and PCAn were studied. These properties were found to be dependent on the solvent used. The cast films from m-cresol solution exhibit more effective doping and higher conductivity.

Solution properties of doped polyaniline

Solution properties of polyaniline (PAn) doped by camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) were examined. PAn-CSA behaves like a polyelectrolyte to different extents depending on the solvent used. In an m-cresol/chloroform solution, PAn-CSA exhibits an expanded chain conformation because of its polyelectrolytic properties. Dilute and concentrated solution properties of PAn-CSA indicate that PAn-CSA is a semirigid polymer which has strong interchain interactions.

Synthesis and characterization of novel polyimides from alicyclic dianhydride

New alicyclic Polyimides (PIs) were prepared from asymmetric alicyclic dianhydride, 5-(2,5-dioxotetrahydrofuryl)-3-methyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride (DOCDA) and the corresponding aromatic diamines such as p-phenylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine and oxydianiline etc. by the polycondensation in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) followed by chemical imidization as well as one step polyimidization in m-cresol in the presence of isoquinoline as a catalyst. The resulting PIs with glass transition temperatures ranging from 220 to 328 degrees C had the inherent viscosities within the range of 0.25 similar to 1.42 dL/g. These polymers were readily soluble in aprotic polar solvents such as NMP, dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethylesulfoxide (DMSO), etc. Furthermore, some of the polymers showed good solubility properties to common organic solvents like tetrahydrofurane and chlorform. Also, all of these polyimide films were tough, almost colourless, and transparent.