Deposition of Poly(diphenylamine-co-3-aminobenzonitrile)/Palladium Nanocomposite Film and Evaluation of Electrocatalytic Activity Toward Borohydride Oxidation.

New nanocomposites, poly(diphenylamine-co-3-aminobenzonitrile)/palladium (P(DPA-co-3ABN)/Pd) and poly(diphenylamine)/palladium (PDPA/Pd), have been prepared by pulse potentiostatic method and used as electrocatalysts for borohydride oxidation. Linear sweep voltammogram of P(DPA-co-3ABN)/Pd-ME exhibited the oxidation wave between -0.8 V and 0.4 V that corresponds to the direct, potentially four-electron, oxidation of borohydride ions. The peak current for borohydride oxidation is much higher at P(DPA-co-3ABN)/Pd-ME electrode as compared to PDPA/Pd-ME. The incorporation of 3ABN units augments electrocatalytic behavior and thermal stability for the P(DPA-co-3ABN)/Pd catalyst.

Synthesis of novel poly(amidoxime) grafted multiwall carbon nanotube gel and uranium adsorption.

This is the first report on the synthesis of a new functional nanocomposite gel containing amidoxime functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (AO-MWNT-FNC GEL). The surface morphology of AO-MWNT-FNC GEL was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The modification of gel with amidoxine groups was confirmed by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy. The AO-MWNT-FNC GEL provides effective binding with uranium ions as was ascertained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The AO-MWNT-FNC GEL was utilized as the new adsorbent for the recovery of uranium ions from aqueous solution. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor the adsorption capacity of the AO-MWNT-FNC GEL toward uranium ions. The influence of initial uranium ion concentration and solution pH on the adsorption capacity of the AO-MWNT-FNC GEL were studied in batch experiments. The new FNC-GEL designed in this study is distinguished by higher adsorption capacity for uranium ions due to the synergistic contributions from high surface area of MWNT and the functional AO groups in FNC-GEL and exhibits potential for efficient recovery of uranium ions.

Development of a novel cyano group containing electrochemically deposited polymer film for ultrasensitive simultaneous detection of trace level cadmium and lead.

Poly(diphenylamine-co-2-aminobenzonitrile) (P(DPA-co-2ABN)), a cyano group containing conducting polyaniline derivative, has been electrodeposited developed as the new material and utilized for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of trace levels of cadmium (Cd(2+)) and lead (Pb(2+)). P(DPA-co-2ABN) film preconcentrates effectively through cyano chelation and electrochemically strips the heavy metal ions with well separated potentials, which are beneficially utilized for ppb level simultaneous detection of Cd(2+) and Pb(2+). Differential pulse voltammetry studies revealed that Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) ions were simultaneously stripped with well-defined, separated and sharp peaks for Cd(2+) and Pb(2+). The influence of various operational parameters such as pulse amplitude, pulse time, scan rate, initial potential, end potential, accumulation potential and accumulation time on the electrochemical stripping of heavy metals were investigated in details. Under the optimal conditions, good linear correlations were obtained from 1.26 to 907.8 ppm for Cd(2+) and 0.26 to 58.73 ppm for Pb(2+), respectively. Low detection limits for Cd(2+) and Pb(2+), 0.255 ppm and 0.165 ppm, respectively, were observed. The practical utility of the new procedure was demonstrated in real samples.

Course of poly(4-aminodiphenylamine)/Ag nanocomposite formation through UV-vis spectroscopy.

Kinetics of chemical oxidative polymerization of 4-aminodiphenylamine (4ADPA) was followed in aqueous 1 M p-toluene sulfonic acid (p-TSA) using silver nitrate (AgNO3) as an oxidant by UV-vis spectroscopy. The medium was found to be clear and homogeneous during the course of polymerization. The absorbances corresponding to the intermediate and the polymer were followed for different concentrations of 4ADPA and AgNO3 and at different reaction time. The appearance of a band around 450 nm during the initial stages of polymerization corresponds to the plasmon resonance formed by the reduction of Ag+ ions. Rate of poly(4-aminodiphenylamine)/Ag nanocomposite (RP4ADPA/AgNC) was determined for various reaction conditions. R(P4ADP/AgNC) showed second order power dependence on 4ADPA and first order dependence on AgNO3. The observed order dependences of 4ADPA and AgNO3 on the formation of P4ADPA/AgNC were used to deduce a rate equation for the reaction. Rate constant for the reaction was determined through different approaches. The good agreement between the rate constants obtained through different approaches justifies the selection of rate equation.