Preparation and electrochemical catalytic application of nanocrystalline cellulose doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) conducting polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

Novel conducting polymer nanocomposites of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were prepared through both chemical and electrochemical polymerization methods. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. In both cases, NCC could be effectively incorporated into the polymerized PEDOT to form uniform conducting polymer nanocomposites that exhibit good electrochemical properties. With NCC acting as the only dopant in the electrochemical polymerization process, pure NCC doped PEDOT (PEDOT/NCC) with a unique nanostructure could be synthesized through the simple electrodeposition method. The electrochemically deposited PEDOT/NCC nanocomposite showed very low electrochemical impedance, large charge storage capacity and good electrocatalytic activity. Based on the excellent catalytic activity of the PEDOT/NCC nanocomposite towards the oxidation of dopamine, a sensitive amperometric sensor for the detection of dopamine with a detection limit of 69 nM was developed.