Surfactant assisted synthesis of pH responsive polyaniline-cellulose biocomposite for sensor applications

ABSTRACT

In the present communication, an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) and a cationic surfactant tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) were employed as soft templates for the preparation of biocomposites of polyaniline and cellulose, PAni/Cell, via oxidation polymerization. These biocomposites were characterized by UV/Vis, Fourier Transform Infra red (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Wire-like and porous structures are observed for PAni/Cell prepared in the presence of SDBS whereas, presence of TTAB shows clusters-like structures. Electrochemical properties displayed by cyclic voltammograms (CV) of PAni/Cell/surfactant electrode, the effect of scan rate, and pH on the current response indicate its compatibility in sensor applications.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Biocomposites
• surfactants
• morphology
• cyclic voltammetry
• pH responsiveness

Acknowledgments

Analytical services of the SAIF, Chandigarh, and the Electronic Science Department, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra are deeply acknowledged. Authors are grateful to Dr. S. K. Shukla, Department of polymer Science, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi for valuable suggestions in spectral analysis.

Additional information

Funding

One of the authors, N D is thankful to Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India for the financial support through Women Scientist Scheme A (WOS-A) [Grant No.SR/WOS-A/CS-73/2016].

Notes on contributors

Neelima Dubey

Neelima Dubey obtained her M. Sc. and Ph. D. degree in Chemistry from Allahabad University. She is currently working as a Research Scientist in Department of Chemistry, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India, under “Women Scientist Scheme” of Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India. She is working in the field of conducting polymers and bionanocomposites. Her other area of research interest is physical chemistry, thermodynamics, liquid state etc. She has published more than 30 research papers in various journals of international repute.

Sanjiv Arora

Sanjiv Arora is a Professor in Department of Chemistry, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India since 2009. He had his master’s of science (MSc) in physical chemistry from Kurukshetra University and Doctor of philosophy (PhD) from the same department in 1991 on the topic “Thermal Degradation of Cellulose and Modified Celluloses”. He has extensively worked on “Flame Retardancy of Cellulosic materials” in ICAR project sponsored by “United State Department of Agriculture (USDA)”. He has jointly worked with Physics Department of Kurukshetra University of DRDO sponsored project on “Non Linear Optical Polymers”. His current and future research is focus around on “Polymer Composites”, “Wood Polymer Composites” and “Degradation Kinetics Study”. He had a long collaboration with plywood industry of yamunanagar, Haryana and recently got him associated with “Forest Research Institute Dehradun”. He has published more than 80 research publications in journal of repute like journal of polymer science, journal of applied polymer science, journal of reinforced plastics and composites etc.