Multifunctional smart conducting polymers – silver nanocomposites-modified biocellulose fibers for innovative food packaging applications

In recent decades, food-packaging markets have attracted researchers’ interest in many ways because such industries can directly affect human health. In this framework, the present study emphasizes the interesting and smart properties provided by new nanocomposites based on conducting polymers (CPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and cellulose fibers (CFs) and their possible applications as active food packaging. Polyaniline and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) containing AgNPs were elaborated on via a simple one-step in situ chemical oxidative polymerization on CFs. Spectroscopic and microscopic characterization allowed a full discussion of the morphology and chemical structure of the nanocomposites and confirmed the successful polymerization of the monomer as well as the incorporation of AgNPs into the CP-based formulation. This study aims to demonstrate that it is possible to produce a highly efficient package with enhanced protective properties. Thus, the synthesized nanocomposites were tested as volatile organic compounds, sensors, and antibacterial and antioxidant agents. It is shown that the elaborated materials can, on the one hand, inhibit the development of biofilms and decrease the oxidation reaction rate of foodstuffs and, on the other hand, detect toxic gases generated by spoiled food. The presented method has unlocked massive opportunities for using such formulations as an interesting alternative for classical food containers. The smart and novel properties offered by the synthesized composites can be operated for future industrial applications to prevent any degradation of the packaged products by offering optimum protection and creating an atmosphere that can extend the shelf life of foodstuffs

Un nouveau film conducteur poly(aminoquinone) pour le stockage de l'énergie

L'oxydation électrochimique du 5-amino-1,4-naphtoquinone (ANQ) dans l'acétonitrile conduit à la formation de films conducteurs (10-1 S.cm-1) fonctionnalisés de structure type polyaniline portant une fonction quinone par motif ANQ, qui sont électroactifs en milieu aqueux comme en milieu organique. Le polymère échange des cations au cours du processus rédox des quinones et est ainsi intéressant pour les applications dans les accumulateurs au lithium. La charge spécifique mesurée de ce polymère est particulièrement élevée avec environ 290 Ah/kg

Corrosion control of aluminum surfaces by polypyrrole films: influence of electrolyte

Polypyrrole (PPy) films were galvanostatically deposited on 99.9 wt. (%) aluminum electrodes from aqueous solutions containing each carboxylic acid: tartaric, oxalic or citric. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the aluminum surfaces coated with the polymeric films. It was observed that the films deposited from tartaric acid medium presented higher homogeneity than those deposited from oxalic and citric acid. Furthermore, the corrosion protection of aluminum surfaces by PPy films was also investigated by potentiodynamic polarization experiments