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- Title
Templateless synthesis of polypyrrole nanowires by non-static solution-surface electropolymerization.
- Authors
Turco, Antonio; Mazzotta, Elisabetta; Di Franco, Cinzia; Santacroce, Maria; Scamarcio, Gaetano; Monteduro, Anna; Primiceri, Elisabetta; Malitesta, Cosimino
- Abstract
Polypyrrole nanowires (PPy-NWs) are synthesized by a novel templateless approach based on non-static solution-surface (NSSS) electropolymerization. The mechanism responsible for PPy-NW formation is the simultaneous oxidation of pyrrole and water, with concomitant formation of hydroxyl radicals and dioxygen nanobubbles. In particular, a localized PPy-NW deposition at the solution-air interface is enabled by solution-surface electropolymerization due to the surface excess of the monomer at the interface favored by the large surface tension of the solvent. In the proposed approach, solution-surface electropolymerization is performed in non-static conditions (NSSS), as the solution-air interface is shifted by flowing the electrolyte solution over the electrode surface. This allows a PPy-NW homogeneous deposition on whatever large area electrode to be rapidly achieved. Parameters influencing the morphology of PPy-NWs are studied, particularly focusing on flow rate, pH of the electrolyte solution, and electropolymerization time. The growth process of PPy-NWs is examined and the way of tuning their resulting morphology is discussed. Morphological investigation by scanning electron microscopy and chemical/electrochemical characterization of PPy-NWs by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, respectively, further support the proposed nanowire formation mechanism. Nanowires with diameter in the range of 40-300 nm are obtained, and the possibility of depositing differently sized nanowires with a predetermined spatial distribution on the same substrate is also demonstrated.
- Subjects
POLYPYRROLE; NANOWIRES; ELECTROPOLYMERIZATION; ELECTRON microscopy; HYDROXYL group
- Publication
Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 2016, Vol 20, Issue 8, p2143
- ISSN
1432-8488
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10008-016-3206-7