Andreoli, Enrico (2010) Electrochemical Deposition of Copper and Zinc Nanomaterials at Polypyrrole Thin Films. PhD thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
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Abstract
The electrodeposition of copper- or zinc-based nanomaterials was performed on the
top of polypyrrole-polystyrene sulfonate (PPy-PSS) thin films from their respective
sulfate solutions in presence of dissolved oxygen.
Three main processes were responsible for the formation of the nanomaterials,
namely, the capture of Cu2+ or Zn2+ ions by the film from the electrolyte solution, the
formation of OH−
ions generated from the oxygen reduction reaction, and the
reaction of the hydroxide ions with the metal ions to form insoluble double salts.
Copper-based hierarchical micro/nanostructure composed of copper hydroxide
sulfate hydrate, [CuSO4]2[Cu(OH)2]3·5H2O, and posnjakite, CuSO4[Cu(OH)2]3·H2O,
were identified using X-ray diffraction and several other surface analytical
techniques. These structures were formed of nanosheets made of nanoparticles which
combined into flower-like micro-clusters. The nucleation of the structures was
progressive. The morphology and composition of the copper-based materials
changed with the deposition potential. Microcrystals and nanosheets were combined
using a two-step fabrication procedure to form new hybrid microstructures.
Metallic copper nanoparticles (CuNP) were formed from the reduction of the
hierarchical micro/nanostructure. The application of a high reduction potential
caused the erosion of the nanosheets and the formation of CuNP. These nanoparticles
were used to detect nitrate ions. The sensing performance was improved with the
introduction of polyethyleneimine-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes
(MWNT-PEI) to the PPy-PSS films. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
studies showed that the nanotubes increased the electronic conductivity of the
reduced films. The limit of detection of the PPy-PSS-MWNT-PEI-CuNP
nanocomposite was 30 µM nitrate.
Nanothin sheets made of zinc sulphate hydroxide hydrate, ZnSO4[Zn(OH)2]3·5H2O,
were also deposited on the PPy-PSS films and characterized using a range of
experimental techniques. The zinc-based sheets formed on the film surface with
instantaneous nucleation and grew into a network of entangled nanosheets. The
effect of the experimental conditions on the electrodeposition was studied.
Interestingly, the formation of the nanosheets was only observed on PPy-PSS films,
but not on films doped with other sulfated/sulfonate dopants. The zinc nanosheets
were reduced to metallic zinc micro-dendrites and possibly zinc oxide nanocrystals.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
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Keywords: | Electrochemical; Deposition; Copper; Zinc; Nanomaterials; Polypyrrole; Thin; Films; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Chemistry |
Item ID: | 16404 |
Depositing User: | IR eTheses |
Date Deposited: | 15 Aug 2022 10:45 |
URI: | https://mu.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/16404 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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