Fabrication and Characterization of Free-Standing and Flexible Polyaniline Membranes: Role of Graphene Nanoscrolls

Abstract

Wearable technologies can contribute to the early and accurate detection of chronic diseases which can be achieved by the integration of biosensors into wearable technologies. However, the challenges associated with the performance of current electrode materials—i.e., flexibility, conductivity, and mechanical stability, made from conducting polymers are preventing their widespread usage. Herein, we report a freestanding and flexible electrode synthesized from polyaniline (PANI) and graphene nanoscrolls (GNS). The PANI-GNS nanohybrid membranes were synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nanoindentation (NI), and four-point probe techniques. FTIR results showed an increase in conjugation length of the PANI after the addition of GNS into the mixture which can be indicative of an enhancement of electrical properties. Nanoindentation studies showed an elastic modulus and hardness of 2.6 GPa and 0.17 GPa, respectively, for PANI-GNS-5 nanocomposite, compared to 1.9 GPa and 0.08 GPa, for pure PANI. This was later confirmed by the four-point probe technique as the addition of GNS increased the conductivity of electrodes up to 9 S/cm at a 5% weight ratio. Moreover, SEM results of the PANI-GNS showed an open porous morphology of the polymer matrix in comparison with pure PANI samples which would readily translate into higher amounts of enzyme immobilization on the surface.