Morphology of conductive blend fibers of polyaniline and polyamide-11

Polyaniline (PANI), a member of the intrinsically conducting polymer (ICPs) family, was blended with polyamide-11 (polyco-aminoundecanoyle) in concentrated sulfuric acid. The above solution was used to spin conductive PANI/polyamide-11 fibers by wet-spinning technology. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were employed to study the two-phase morphology of the conductive PANI/polyamide-11 fibers. The micrographs of the cross-section, the axial section and the surface of the monofilament demonstrated that the two blend components were incompatible. The morphology of PANI in the fibers was of fibrillar form, which was valuable for producing conducting channels. The electrical conductivity of the fibers was from 10(-6) to 10(-1) S/cm with the different PANI fraction and the percolation threshold was about 5 wt.%. By comparing the two blend systems of PANI/Polyamide-11 fibers and carbon black filled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers, it was shown that the morphology of the conductive component had an influence on electrical conductivity, The former had higher conductivity and lower percolation threshold than the latter. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Confined crystallization behavior of PEO in organic networks

Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly (trimethopropane trimethacrylate) (PTMPTMA) interpenetrate networks have been synthesized. The confined crystallization behavior of PEO in the PTMTYTMA networks has been investigated by a differential scanning calorimeter and scanning electron microscope. The degree of PEO crystallinity in PEO/PTMPTMA interpenetrate networks reduces with the increase of PTMPTMA. PEO is in an amorphous state when the concentration of PEO is lower than 50% in the interpenetrate networks system. The melting points of crystalline PEO in the networks are lower than that of pure PEG, and the melting point of PEO in the networks is higher and increases with the increase of PEO in the interpenetrate networks. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction results show that the PEO crystallite size perpendicular to the (120) plane is not affected as much as PEO in silica networks. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recent advances in scanning electrochemical microscopy

The basic principle, instrumentation and recent advances of scanning electrochemical microscopy are briefly reviewed with 55 references.

EQCM characterization of self-assembled kinetics of 4-pyridyl hydroquinone at Pt surface and its ion transfer in electrochemical redox

The adsorbed kinetics, proton transportation in electrochemical redox process of 4-pyridyl hydroquinone (4PHQ) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified Pt electrode were studied by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) in situ. It proved that the electrode was modified by a monolayer and underwent a rapid electron transfer. It was a slow adsorbed kinetic process. The ion transfer in the electrochemical redox at the SAM-modified electrode surface mainly involved into the hydrate hydrogen ion.

Stimulated emission in blue wavelength region from a copolymer

A dye laser based on the soluble conjugated polymer, Poly[1,8-octanedioxy-2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene-1,2-ethenylene-1, 4-phenylene-1,2-ethenylene-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene], has been fabricated. The laser was pumped by light pulses from the third harmonic radiation of an Nd:YAG laser. The lasing was observed in the blue wavelength region with the peak at 450 nm. The threshold energy is about 19 mu J. The energy conversion yield of the laser is about 3.4%. The maximum peak power of the laser output pulse arrives at about 20 kW.

Corona poling of liquid crystalline polymers with nitroazobenzene side chains

The orientational behavior of liquid crystalline polymers with para-nitro azobenzene as side chains under electric field was studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. The results showed that lambda(max) of the poled polymer films was around 394nm, compared to that of the unpoled films, the absorption decreased due to poling. The orientational parameters increased linearly with the increase of the electric field. The temporal stability of the poled polymer film is good at room temperature. This kind of materials showed promise application as nonlinear optical component in photorefractive polymers.

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.

The electrochemical behavior of Eastman AQ/meldola blue-coated microelectrodes

Eastman-AQ 55D was coated onto a carbon fiber microelectrode surface, and the resulting modified electrodes exhibited high stability. Substantial improvement in the stability was observed as a result of good adhesion and the strong binding of large hydrophobic cations of Eastman AQ 55D. The electrode reaction of meldola blue bound in the polymer film showed a reversible, one-electron transfer process. The effects of solution pH and influence of supporting electrolyte on the modified carbon fiber microelectrode are discussed. The diffusion coefficient of meldola blue in the AQ polymer film determined by chronoamperometry is 2.3 x 10(-18) cm(2) s(-1), and the heterogeneous rate constant of meldola blue at the AQ polymer film/electrode determined by normal pulse voltammetry is 3.97 x 10(-3) cms(-1).

ELECTROCHEMICAL CONTROLLED-RELEASE OF ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATE

Polypyrrole (PPy) film was synthesized by anodic polymerization of pyrrole onto the surface of platinum electrode in the solution of sodium p-toluene sulfonate (NaTsO). When this film was oxidized anodically in an aqueous solution of adenosine triphosphatle (ATP), the ATP anions were incorporated into the film. Release of ATP From the film could be accomplished by reduction of the film in aqueous electrolyte solution. The total amount of ATP released from the film was determined by UV spectroscopic method.

MISCIBILITY, MICROSTRUCTURE, AND DYNAMICS OF BLENDS CONTAINING BLOCK-COPOLYMER .2. MICROSTRUCTURE OF BLENDS OF HOMOPOLYSTYRENE WITH STYRENE-BUTADIENE BLOCK-COPOLYMERS

The microstructures of styrene-butadiene triblock (SBS) and styrene-butadiene four-arm star block (SB-4A) copolymers and their blends with homopolystyrene (PS) of different molecular weights, MPS, have been investigated by means of small-angle X-ray scatt

SURFACE FRACTALS IN BLOCK-COPOLYMERS

A surface fractal model was presented to describe the interface in block copolymers. It gives a simple power-law relationship between the scattering intensity I(q) and the wave vector q in a relatively wide range as qxi >> 1, I(q) is-proportional-to q(D-6

INDIGO-CARMINE-MODIFIED POLYPYRROLE FILM ELECTRODE

Functionalized polypyrrole films were prepared electrochemically in the presence of indigo-carmine from aqueous solution. The film shows a couple of reversible redox peaks superimposed on a large background of polypyrrole. The redox reaction is pH dependent. The film has good stability in air and can be cycled between -0.1 and 0.4 V (Ag/AgCl) for several hours without any significant changes in the voltammograms. UV-visible spectra indicate the incorporation of indigo-carmine into the polymer matrix.

ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF ASCORBIC-ACID AT A PRUSSIAN BLUE FILM MODIFIED MICRODISK ELECTRODE

The preparation and the behaviour of a Prussian Blue (PB) film on a platinum microdisk electrode has been described. Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid has occurred at the PB film modified microelectrode. This shows a typical example of a modified microelectrode in electrocatalysis following our previous theoretical studies (J. Electroanal. Chem., 309 (1991) 103) and the related catalytic reaction rate constant was determined.

ADVANCED ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY IN CHINA .1. GENERAL ASPECT AND SOME METHODOLOGIES

The Research on Electroanalytical chemistry in China started mainly from the beginning of new China in 1949. It has already good basis and development nowadays. A review with references to the end of seventies has been published in "Reviews in Analytical Chemistry" 1) and in a book titled "Fifty years of Chinese Chemistry" edited by the Chinese Chemical Society in 1985 2). Since then more than thousand papers have been published, and it is impossible and also not necessary to describe all of them. This review only deals with the main progress of electroanalytical chemistry in China in recent years. Some new developed methodologies will be reviewed by S. Dong in the next article.

ANODIC-OXIDATION OF HYDRAZINE ON GLASSY-CARBON MODIFIED BY MACROCYCLIC TRANSITION-METAL COMPLEXES .1. COBALT PROTOPORPHYRIN DIMETHYL ESTER MODIFIED ELECTRODE

The electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine (N2H4) on a glassy carbon electrode (GC) modified by monolayer and polymer films of cobalt protoporphyrin dimethyl ester (CoPP) has been studied. Both the monolayer and polymer films of CoPP are very active to the anodic oxidation of N2H4. The activity of CoPP for the anodic oxidation of N2H4 is dependent on the pH of the solution, and the thickness of polymerized CoPP film. The oxidation kinetics were examined by methods of cyclic voltammetry, rotating disc electrodes and steady-state polarization measurement.