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A novel biosensor harnessing a conducting polymer functionalized with a copper ion specific peptide proved to be highly effective for electrochemical analysis of copper ions. The developed sensor comprised a transducer based on a conducting polymer (poly(3-thiopheneacetic acid)) electrode and a probe (tripeptide, Gly-Gly-His) selectively cognitive of copper ions. For functionalization of the electrode, the carboxylic group of the polymer was covalently coupled with the amine group of the tripeptide, and its structural features were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. The peptide modified polythiophene biosensor was used for the electrochemical analysis of various trace metal ions by square wave voltammetry. The electrode was found to be highly sensitive and selective to Cu(2+) in the range of 0.02-20 microM with almost no cross binding to other metal ions such as Ni(2+) and Pb(2+). Furthermore, the developed sensor exhibited a high stability and reproducibility despite the repeated use of the sensor electrode and probe. With the advent of more diverse affinity bioprobes specific towards a broad range of analytes, the demonstrated strategy harnessing peptide modified polythiophene biosensor is likely to provide an excellent platform for the selective determination of trace amount of analytes whose detection is otherwise cumbersome.

A novel Au/PDVB core-shell was prepared by the chemical reduction of a gold-phenanthroline complex on the poly(divinylbenzene) (PDVB) cores (2-5 μm). The PDVB cores were synthesized by precipitation polymerization, and the surface was modified by introducing thiol and sulfonic acid groups. The degree of sulfonation was measured according to its ion exchange capacity (IEC, 5.72 meq/g), and the surface concentration of thiol group was examined by FT-IR spectroscopy. The modified PDVB cores was immersed in a solution of a gold-phenanthroline complex and subsequently reduced to form gold seeds. The effects of the functional groups on the PDVB cores on fabrication of the gold core shell structure were examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of dry type conducting polymer actuator was presented. In the preparation of actuator system, nitrile rubber (NBR) was used as a base material of the solid polymer electrolyte. Thin films of NBR (150 ~ 200 µm) were prepared by compression molding process. The conducting polymer, polypyrrole(PPy) was synthesized on the surface of NBR by chemical oxidation polymerization technique, and the room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide (BMITFSI) was introduced into the composite film. The cyclic voltammetry responses and the redox switching dynamics of PPy in NBR/ionic liquid solid polymer electrolyte were studied. The displacement of actuator was measured by laser beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the preparation and characterization of poly(vinyl butyral)/sodium-montmorillonite nanocomposite. Solvent intercalation; In-situ polymerization; Applications of polymer/clay hybrid nanocomposite materials; Mixture of hydrophobic polymer and hydrophilic inorganic species without sufficient affinity between the two; Suspension in de-ionized water.