ABSTRACT
In this study, a series of amine-modified mesoporous silica (AMS)-based epoxy composites with superhydrophobic biomimetic structure surface of Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves (XSLs) were prepared and applied as anti-corrosion and anti-biofilm coatings. Initially, the AMS was synthesized by the base-catalyzed sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and triethoxysilane (APTES) through a non-surfactant templating route. Subsequently, a series of AMS-based epoxy composites were prepared by performing the ring-opening polymerization of DGEBA with T-403 in the presence of AMS spheres, followed by characterization through FTIR, TEM, and CA. Furthermore, a nano-casting technique with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the soft template was utilized to transfer the surface pattern of natural XSLs to AMS-based epoxy composites, leading to the formation of AMS-based epoxy composites with biomimetic structure. From a hydrophilic CA of 69°, the surface of non-biomimetic epoxy significantly increased to 152° upon introducing XSL surface structure to the AMS-based epoxy composites. Based on the standard electrochemical anti-corrosion and anti-biofilm measurements, the superhydrophobic BEAMS3 composite was found to exhibit a remarkable anti-corrosion efficiency of ~99% and antimicrobial efficacy of 82% as compared to that of hydrophilic epoxy coatings.
ABSTRACT
In this study, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) were used as precursors for silica, combined with the ionic liquid [BMIM-ClO4]. Lithium perchlorate was added as the lithium-ion source, and formic acid was employed as a catalyst to synthesize silica ionogel electrolytes via the sol-gel method. FT-IR and NMR identified the self-prepared ionic liquid [BMIM-ClO4], and its electrochemical window was determined using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The properties of the prepared silica ionogel electrolytes were further investigated through FT-IR, DSC, and 29Si MAS NMR measurements, followed by electrochemical property measurements, including conductivity, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), LSV, and charge-discharge tests. The experimental results showed that adding methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) enhanced the mechanical strength of the silica ionogel electrolyte, simplifying its preparation process. The prepared silica ionogel electrolyte exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 1.65 × 10-3 S/cm. In the LSV test, the silica ionogel electrolyte demonstrated high electrochemical stability, withstanding over 5 V without oxidative decomposition. Finally, during the discharge-charge test, the second-cycle capacity reached 108.7 mAh/g at a discharge-charge rate of 0.2 C and a temperature of 55 °C.
ABSTRACT
In this study, electroactive poly (amic acid) (EPAA) and corresponding polyimide (EPI) without or with a sulfonated group (i.e., S-EPAA, and S-EPI) were prepared and applied in electrochemical sensing of ascorbic acid (AA). The electroactive polymers (EAPs) containing EPAA/EPI and S-EPAA/S-EPI were synthesized by using an amine-capped aniline trimer (ACAT) and sulfonated amine-capped aniline trimer (S-ACAT) as an electroactive segment that controlled the redox capability and influenced the degree of sensitivity of the EAPs towards AA. Characterization of the as-prepared EAPs was identified by FTIR spectra. The redox capability of the EAPs was investigated by electrochemical cyclic voltammetric studies. It should be noted that the redox capability of the EAPs was found to show the following trend: S-EPAA > S-EPI > EPAA > EPI. For the electrochemical sensing studies, a sensor constructed from an S-EPAA-modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) demonstrated 2-fold, 1.27-fold, and 1.35-fold higher electro-catalytic activity towards the oxidation of AA, compared to those constructed using a bare CPE, S-EPI-, and EPI/EPAA-modified CPE, respectively. The higher redox capability of S-EPAA-modified CPE exhibited a good electrochemical response towards AA at a low oxidative potential, with good stability and selectivity. Moreover, an electrochemical sensor constructed from S-EPAA-modified CPE was found to reveal better selectivity for a tertiary mixture of AA/DA/UA, as compared to that of EPI-modified, EPAA-modified and S-EPI-modified CPE, based on a series of differential pulse voltammograms.
