Preparation of poly(o-phenylenediamine) nanoparticles with hydrolysed PEO45-b-PtBA35 as template and its electrochemical properties

Amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PEO45-b-PtBA(35)) from atom transfer radical polymerisation was hydrolysed to varying degrees through adjusting hydrolysis time. And the hydrolysis product poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PEO45-b-PAA(35)) was obtained and used as a template to synthesise nanostructured poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD). The influence of hydrolysis degrees of PEO45-b-PAA(35) on the size and electrochemical properties of PoPD was investigated. Results showed that the PoPD particles have uniform sizes, and their size could be tuned with the hydrolysis degree of PEO45-b-PAA(35). The average diameter and length of PoPD were less than 86 and 135 nm, and the size of these particles was increased with the increase of hydrolysis degree of PEO45-b-PAA(35). Electrochemical characterisation proves that the particle with a smaller size had a better electrochemical activity. When the hydrolysis time was 12 h, the PoPD had the best specific capacitance compared with other samples. The discharge specific capacitance calculated by chronopotentiometric test of this sample is reached 809 F.g(-1) at the current density of 0.5 A.g(-)(1).