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Surfactant Hydrogels for the Dispersion of Carbon‐Nanotube‐Based Catalysts
Author(s) -
Di Crescenzo Antonello,
Bardini Luca,
Sinjari Bruna,
Traini Tonino,
Marinelli Lisa,
Carraro Mauro,
Germani Raimondo,
Di Profio Pietro,
Caputi Sergio,
Di Stefano Antonio,
Bonchio Marcella,
Paolucci Francesco,
Fontana Antonella
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201302704
Subject(s) - carbon nanotube , polyoxometalate , catalysis , self healing hydrogels , materials science , chemical engineering , dispersion (optics) , bromide , electrochemistry , oxide , nanotechnology , pulmonary surfactant , electrocatalyst , supramolecular chemistry , aqueous solution , nanocomposite , composite number , polymer chemistry , chemistry , electrode , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , molecule , physics , optics , engineering , metallurgy
Novel hydrogel phases based on positively charged and zwitterionic surfactants, namely, N ‐[ p ‐( n ‐dodecyloxybenzyl)]‐ N , N , N ‐trimethylammonium bromide (pDOTABr) and p ‐dodecyloxybenzyldimethylamine oxide (pDOAO), which combine pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs), were obtained, thus leading to stable dispersions and enhanced cross‐linked networks. The composite hydrogel featuring a well‐defined nanostructured morphology and an overall positively charged surface was shown to efficiently immobilise a polyanionic and redox‐active tetraruthenium‐substituted polyoxometalate (Ru 4 POM) by complementary charge interactions. The resulting hybrid gel has been characterised by electron microscopy techniques, whereas the electrostatic‐directed assembly has been monitored by means of fluorescence spectroscopy and ζ‐potential tests. This protocol offers a straightforward supramolecular strategy for the design of novel aqueous‐based electrocatalytic soft materials, thereby improving the processability of CNTs while tuning their interfacial decoration with multiple catalytic domains. Electrochemical evidence confirms that the activity of the catalyst is preserved within the gel media.