Development of modified electrodes based on self assembled films of polypirrole and carbon nanotubes composites for pesticides monitoring

Abstract

In this work polypyrrole (PPy) and its respective composite with functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PPy-MWCNT) was obtained by the chemical polymerization of the monomer pyrrole (PPy) in aqueous solution by the dropwise addition of a solution of ammonium persulfate (PSA). The obtained PPy as well as its composite (PPy-MWCNT) were used to prepare two self-assembled films (SA) by the immersion of ITO blades (Inidium Tin Oxide) into PPy and PPy-MWCNT dispersions with alternated immersions into Polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) dispersion, thus resulting in a bilayer. The SA films were produced with ten bilayers (alternated layers of PPy or its composite). The obtained films were characterized by Fourrier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Visible analysis, voltammetric analyses (square wave and cyclic voltammetry) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The SA films were evaluated to determine the chlorothalonil pesticide which is commonly used as anti-fouling agent in marine environments. The SWV results showed a reduction peak at around -0.8 to 1.2 V (according to pH). It was also observed a synergic effect of the composite film (PPy-MWCNT/PSS) to determine the chlorothalonil by increase of the peak currents.