Recent developments in conducting polymers: applications for electrochemistry

Abstract

Scientists have categorized conductive polymers as materials having strongly reversible redox behavior and uncommon combined features of plastics and metal. Because of their multifunctional characteristics, e.g., simplistic synthesis, acceptable environmental stability, beneficial optical, electronic, and mechanical features, researchers have largely considered them for diverse applications. Therefore, their capability of catalyzing several electrode reactions has been introduced as one of their significant features. A thin layer of the conducting polymer deposited on the substrate electrode surface can augment the electrode process kinetics of several solution species. Such electrocatalytic procedures with modified conducting polymer electrodes can create beneficial utilization in diverse fields of applied electrochemistry. This review article explores typical recent applications of conductive polymers (2016-2020) as active electrode materials for energy storage applications, electrochemical sensing, and conversion fields such as electrochemical supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells.

Fig. 1. The π-conjugated system of conducting polymers.

Fig. 2. (a) Chemical structures of several CPs. (b) Electrical conductivity range of CPs. Reproduced with permission from ref. 42. Copyright 2020 Elsevier.

Fig. 3. The electrochemical MIP sensor for NFT determination: (a) the preparation of the electro-synthesized MIP on the nanocomposite modified SPCE. (b) Indirect voltammetric detection of NFT utilizing the K₃[Fe(CN)₆]/K₄[Fe(CN)₆] as the electrochemical probe. Reproduced with permission from ref. 64. Copyright 2018 Springer.

Fig. 4. Construction of the clenbuterol hydrochloride (CLB) immunosensor. (a) The electrochemical immunosensor format was utilized to detect CLB. (b) The indirect electron transfer for the TMB redox is displayed by the complex TMB/HRP/H₂O₂ enzyme reaction on the modified SPCE to reduce the creation of the current. Reproduced with permission from ref. 67. Copyright 2018 MDPI.

Fig. 5. The preparation process of the PSSA/CNTs/MBT/Au-modified electrode for rutin sensing. Reproduced with permission from ref. 71. Copyright 2018 Elsevier.

Fig. 6. Schematic representation of the synthesis of the α-Fe₂O₃/CPANI-modified GCE, along with the amperometric detection of hydrazine. Reproduced with permission from ref. 74. Copyright 2016 Elsevier.

Fig. 7. Fabrication procedure for the electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of Hg(ii) and Pb(ii). Reproduced with permission from ref. 78. Copyright 2018 Elsevier.

Fig. 8. The process applied to the preparation of the imprinted PPy films on the GC substrate MIPGC and isoproturon electroanalysis. Reproduced with permission from ref. 80. Copyright 2020 Elsevier.

Fig. 9. (A) The PAA-rGO/VS-PANI/LuPc2/GO_x-MFH synthesis procedure. (B) SEM images of (a) PAA-rGO/VS-PANI-MFH, and (b) PAA/VS-PANI-MFH. Reproduced with permission from ref. 90. Copyright 2017 Elsevier.

Fig. 10. The electron conjugation process of the SCH₃ group of (a) PMTA versus (b) PANI, accompanied by the traditional donor–acceptor state of the interaction (probable conduction mechanism). Reproduced with permission from ref. 101. Copyright 2017 Elsevier.

Fig. 11. BHJ PSC with the tool architecture: ITO/SPAN(SH)@GNP(X%) NH/P3HT; ICBA/ZnO/Al. Reproduced with permission from ref. 107. Copyright 2018 Elsevier.

Fig. 12. The preparation of PANI@SnO₂@MWCNT; steps (1)–(4) represent the dissolution, self-assembly, heating, and in situ polymerization. Reproduced with permission from ref. 116. Copyright 2018 Elsevier.

Fig. 13. A representation of the poisoning dehydration pathway of FAO at the (a) Pt/GC and (b) Pt/PANi/GC electrodes. The amount of COads was lowered at the Pt/PANi/GC electrode, and PANi may further preferentially capture CO. Reproduced with permission from ref. 126.

Fig. 14. The preparation of Cu₂O/PPy/CPE for ethanol electrocatalytic oxidation. Reproduced with permission from ref. 128. Copyright 2020 Elsevier.