Photolithographic patterning of conducting polyaniline films via flash welding

In this work, two significant advances in photolithographic patterning of polyaniline (PANI) films are reported. Firstly, flash welding was enhanced through the use of polymeric substrates, enabling complete penetration of the welding of PANI films with thicknesses ranging from 5 to over 14 mu m, significantly thicker than reported previously. Masking of parts of the PANI films during flash welding enabled the formation of adjacent conducting and insulating regions as the welding changes the electrical properties of the film. Raman spectroscopy was used to determine the sharpness of these edges, and indicated that the interface between the flash welded and masked regions of the PANI films was typically less than 15 mu m wide. Secondly, using longpass filters, light with a wavelength less than 570 nm was found not to contribute to the welding process. This was confirmed by the use of a 635 nm laser diode for welding the PANI films. This novel approach enabled patterning of PANI films using a direct writing technique with a narrow wavelength light source

EPR characterisation of platinum nanoparticle functionalised CNT hybrid materials

The use of nanostructured carbon materials as electrodes for energy storage and conversion is an expanding area of research in recent years. Herein, Platinum nanoparticles have been deposited onto both multi-walled and single-walled carbon nanotubes via a microwave assisted polyol reduction method. This interaction has been probed with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Raman spectroscopies to elucidate the charge/electron transfer interactions between the Pt nanoparticles and the CNTs. Observed shifts in the g factors of the CNTs are indicative of such an electronic interactions, suggesting covalent attachment of the nanoparticles with the carboxylic groups on the CNTs, formed during the microwave-assisted reduction process. The Pt decorated CNTs show a dramatic increase in electrochemical behaviour in terms of high reversible capacity and relatively stable cycle performance compared to unmodified CNTs increasing their applicability in energy storage devices. For instance, significant increases in the electrochemical double layer capacitance is observed for the CNT-NP composite electrode (80 % for SWNTs and 50 % for MWNT)