A Templateless Electropolymerization Approach to Porous Hydrophobic Nanostructures Using 3, 4‐Phenylenedioxythiophene Monomers with Electron‐Withdrawing Groups. Issue 7 (19th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Darmanin, Thierry; Godeau, Guihem; Guittard, Frédéric; Klimareva, Elena L.; Schewtschenko, Irina; Perepichka, Igor F.
• Is Part Of: ChemNanoMat. Volume 4:Issue 7(2018)
• Page Start: 656
• Page End: 662
• Publication Date: 2018-04-19
• Subjects: conducting materials -- electropolymerization -- nanostructures -- polymers -- hydrophobic effect; Nanochemistry -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Nanochemistry; Nanostructured materials; Periodicals; 541.2
• DOI: 10.1002/cnma.201800068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2199-692X

Abstract

Abstract: Controlling the surface structures of conducting polymers is extremely important for various applications not only because of their unique optoelectronic properties but also owing to the wetting properties of these materials. Using a templateless electropolymerization approach, we report the formation of porous polymer nanostructures from a series of 3, 4‐(1, 2‐phenylenedioxy)(PheDOT) derivatives with electron‐withdrawing side groups (Cl, CN, CF3, SO2 CH3 ). In this templateless electropolymerization, trace water present in solution is sufficient to produce gas bubbles (O2 and H2 ) and, as a consequence, to form the porous nanostructures with a tendency to form nanotubes on the surface. We show that the substituents inPheDOT play an important role to control the porous nanostructures and, as a consequence, the surface hydrophobicity. Using 3, 4‐(1, 3‐propylenedioxy)type (ProDOT ) derivativeF4 ‐BnDOT, the formation of densely packed nanofibers was demonstrated, and these are not a result of the presence of trace water. In this case, the surfaces are even more hydrophobic than forPheDOT ‐based polymers, displaying extremely high apparent water contact angles ( θ w =138–144°) and strong water adhesion. Such surfaces from electropolymerized conducting polymers could be used in a number of technological applications, e.g. self‐cleaning surfaces, micropatterning, water harvesting and microfluid systems. Abstract : Hydrophobic Nanostructures : Electropolymerization of functionalized 3, 4‐phenylenedioxythiophene monomers (PheDOT) leads to the formation of nanoporous structures of highly hydrophobic surfaces. The surface morphology and its wettability were drastically affected by the side groups in PheDOT, ranging from nanotubes to vertically aligned nanofibers.