Chemical Papers 

About: Chemical Papers is an academic journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Chemistry & Catalysis. It has an ISSN identifier of 0366-6352. Over the lifetime, 2880 publications have been published receiving 15100 citations. The journal is also known as: Chemické zvesti & Chemical papers.

Interaction of conducting polymers, polyaniline and polypyrrole, with organic dyes: polymer morphology control, dye adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition

Abstract: Conducting polymers, such as polyaniline and polypyrrole, have frequently been discussed in the literature due to ease of preparation and high application potential. These polymers have been observed to interact with organic dyes because of the similarity in the conjugated molecular structure of both moieties. The interaction manifests itself in three fundamental directions that have been so far treated separately. The first is represented by the conductivity enhancement and morphology control when using organic dyes as templates in polypyrrole preparation. The adsorption of dyes on conducting polymers is the second field oriented at the water pollution treatment. Finally, the photocatalytic decomposition of organic dyes aims at the similar environmental target. The last two applications do not require the presence of conductivity which, on the other hand, is a key parameter of conducting polymers. The future design of advanced adsorbents, however, has to exploit both the conductivity and electroactivity in the control of pollutant adsorption or degradation. For this reason, all these interactions and their practical impact are considered in the present review.

Conducting polypyrrole nanotubes: a review

Abstract: Polypyrrole nanotubes rank among the most conducting polymer materials. The role of the templates in the formation of nanotubes is analysed and various models are discussed. Special attention has been paid to the role of methyl-orange dye in guiding one-dimensional morphology. The tuning of reaction conditions by varying temperature, acidity, or the introduction of additives, such as dyes, affects both the morphology and conductivity of polypyrrole. The increase in conductivity need not always be associated with nanotubular morphology. In addition to conductivity, also other physical properties are reviewed with the special attention paid to the characterization by UV–visible, infrared, and Raman spectroscopies. The chemical properties are demonstrated by the ability of polypyrrole to reduce noble-metal compounds, and by salt–base transition associated with the conductivity decrease. Polypyrrole nanotubes maintain the most of conductivity under physiological conditions, and they are still conducting under alkaline conditions in the contrast to globular polypyrrole. Polypyrrole nanotubes convert to nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes at elevated temperature, thus producing useful carbonaceous materials. To improve the processing, the nanotubes have been used in composites, colloids, or hydrogels. The applications of polypyrrole nanotubes extend to adsorbents, actuators, antioxidants, biomedicine, catalysts and electrocatalysts, electrorheological suspensions, electromagnetic interference shielding, and sensors, especially to those exploiting electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity, such as electrodes in batteries and supercapacitors.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using natural pigments extracted from Alfalfa leaves and its use for antimicrobial activity

Abstract: The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using natural pigments from plants as reducing agents is presented in this study. The natural pigments were extracted from Alfalfa leaves. The reduction reaction was investigated by UV–Vis and FTIR analyses. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis, XRD, TEM, and DLS. UV–Vis analysis revealed that AgNPs were produced with a persistent plasmonic absorption peak at about 418 nm accompanied by consumption of pigments. The reduction is suggested to occur, mainly, by chlorophyll a and carotenes. Characterization revealed pure synthesized AgNPs with an average particle size of 25 nm. In an interesting novel experiment, the progress of reduction reaction was traced at the interface between reacting phases under UV illumination making use of fluorescence of both chlorophylls and formed Ag nano-clusters (AgNCs). The enrollment of chlorophylls in reduction was suggested depending on FTIR and fluorescence analyses. The synthesized AgNPs possessed a superior antimicrobial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213; 24.0 mm ZOI, followed by Escherichia coli ATCC 25922; 17.0 mm ZOI. In addition, AgNPs were a strong antifungal agent against Candida albicans ATCC 10231; 26.0 mm ZOI.

Advancements in the zinc oxide nanomaterials for efficient photocatalysis

Abstract: Zinc oxide photocatalyst with multifaceted and tunable structure-electronic properties has garnered foremost relevance in the wastewater purification. The drawbacks supplemented with ZnO such as wide band gap, immense charge carrier recombination and photo-corrosion (deactivation) during the photocatalytic reactions obfuscate for large scale applications. Accordingly, research is swiftly inclining to spotlight the ZnO as an appropriate semiconductor to many competitive metal oxides (TiO2, Bi2O3 and WO3) in the area of heterogeneous photocatalysis. In this focused review, several strategies like synthesizing with hierarchical morphology and exposed facets, impurity doping, metal deposition, integrating with other semiconductors and modifying with carbon materials which induces multifunctional properties to boost the performance of ZnO are articulated. It is presumed that the photocatalytic activity of the modified ZnO arises from the collective contribution of effective charge carrier separation, generation of surplus active free radicals coupled with striking structure-electronic properties and nature of the photocatalytic reactions. The overall findings enunciate that such amendments to ZnO are beneficial to improve structural stability and also to obtain desired features driving for various energy applications.

Conducting polymer hydrogels

Abstract: Conducting polymer hydrogels are gels, which are swollen with water, and contain a conducting polymer along with a supporting polymer as constituents. Polyaniline, polypyrrole or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) represent the conducting moiety, while water-soluble polymers the other part. Various ways of hydrogel preparation are reviewed. The properties, such as mixed electronic and ionic conductivity, redox activity, and responsivity, are conveniently combined with materials properties afforded by supporting polymers, such as elasticity, mechanical integrity, and biocompatibility. The derived materials, aerogels obtained after freeze-drying of hydrogels, or carbogels produced after carbonization of aerogels, are also considered. The applications are expected especially in biomedicine and energy-storage devices but many other uses proposed in the literature are listed and discussed.