Synthesis and characterization of a novel silver nanoparticles decorated functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes nanohybrids embedded polyaniline ternary nanocomposites: thermal, dielectric, and sensing properties

ABSTRACT

The recent research paper describes the synthesis of the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coated functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWNTs) hybrid nanofillers reinforced polyaniline (PANI) (PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs) nanocomposites, which was carried out through in situ polymerization process to analyze its thermal, dielectric, and sensing properties. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the occurrence of interphase interactions within the Ag@f-SWNTs hybrid nanofillers and PANI matrix. The Raman spectroscopy indicated the blue shift with increase in intensity of the band that confirms the decoration of AgNPs on the surface of the f-SWNTs. The structural behavior of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs nanocomposites was investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, which revealed the presence of the face centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure of the AgNPs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evaluated the chemical composition and bond structure of the nanocomposites. The morphology of the nanocomposites is studied from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which displayed the well decoration of the AgNPs on the surface of the f-SWNTs. The thermal and dielectric properties of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs nanocomposites were examined by using thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), respectively. The thermal and dielectric properties of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs nanocomposites were significantly enhanced owing to the development of robust interphase interactions between the Ag@f-SWNTs hybrid nanofillers and PANI matrix that arises due to the homogeneous dispersion of the Ag@f-SWNTs nanohybrids within the PANI matrix through in situ polymerization process. The Cr(VI) metal ion sensing behavior of the PANI and PANI ternary nanocomposites was studied through UV-Vis spectroscopy, which indicates significant improvement in sensing behavior of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs ternary nanocomposites as compared to the pure PANI matrix.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Silver nanoparticles
• functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes
• nanohybrids
• polyaniline
• nanocomposites
• thermal and dielectric properties

Acknowledgments

Authors thank Dr. Bibhu Prasad Sahoo, School of Applied Sciences (Chemistry), KIIT deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India for his cooperation to carry out the dielectric test.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Lipsa Shubhadarshinee: Conceptualization, Investigation, Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Visualization. Pooja Mohapatra: Formal analysis. Bigyan Ranjan Jali: Investigation, Data curation, Formal analysis. Priyaranjan Mohapatra: Writing - Review & Editing, Supervision. Aruna Kumar Barick: Conceptualization, Investigation, Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Visualization, Writing - Review & Editing, Supervision.

Additional information

Funding

L. Shubhadarshinee highly acknowledges the Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha for the Biju Patnaik Research Fellowship (BPRF) vide Letter No.: ST-SCST-MISC-0054-2018-1152/ST dated 26^th February 2019. Dr. A. K. Barick acknowledges the Start-Up Research Grant funded by Faculty Research Promotion Schemes (FRPS) of the University Grants Commission (UGC)-Basic Scientific Research (BSR) Scheme vide Letter No.: F.30–131/2015(BSR) dated 27th September 2021.

Notes on contributors

Lipsa Shubhadarshinee

Lipsa Shubhadarshinee received her M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry from Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India.

Pooja Mohapatra

Pooja Mohapatra received her M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry from Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India.

Bigyan Ranjan Jali

Bigyan Ranjan Jali received his Ph.D in 2014 from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India. Subsequently, he worked as a Lecturer at Govt. Polytechnic College, Gajapati, Odisha, India. In 2016, he joined as an Assistant Professor in Department of Chemistry, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India. His research interest includes design and synthesis of biological molecular probes and study of their fluorescence chemosensors and also study of their cytotoxicity and protein binding properties.

Aruna Kumar Barick

Aruna Kumar Barick received his Ph.D in 2011 from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India and worked as a Post-doctoral Fellow at Hanyang University, South Korea. Subsequently, he worked as an Assistant Professor at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In 2014, he joined as an Assistant Professor in Department of Chemistry, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India. His research interest includes synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and their polymer nanocomposites for various applications.

Priyaranjan Mohapatra

Priyaranja Mohapatra received his Ph.D in 2007 from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India and worked as a Visiting Research Student at Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea and a Post-doctoral Fellow at Chhonam National University, South Korea. Subsequently, he worked as a Lecturer, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor at Silicon Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. In 2013, he joined as Reader in Department of Chemistry, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Sambalpur, Odisha, India and continuing as a Professor. His research interest includes synthesis and characterization of quantum dots, nanocomposites and its application as fluorescent chemosensors.