title: Natural gum-assisted phthalocyanine immobilization in electroactive nanocomposites: physicochemical characterization and sensing applications.
abstract: Natural gums have been traditionally applied in cosmetics and the food industry, mainly as emulsification agents. Due to their biodegradability and excellent mechanical properties, new technological applications have been proposed involving their use with conventional polymers forming blends and composites. In this study, we take advantage of the polyelectrolyte character exhibited by the natural gum ChichA (Sterculia striata), extracted in the Northeastern region of Brazil, to produce electroactive nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were fabricated in the form of ultrathin films by combining a metallic phthalocyanine (nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine, NiTsPc) and the ChichA gum in a tetralayer architecture, in conjunction with conventional polyelectrolytes. The presence of the gum led to an efficient adsorption of the phthalocyanine and enhanced the electrochemical response of the films. Upon combining the electrochemical and UV-vis absorption data, energy diagrams of the ChichA/NiTsPc-based system were obtained. Furthermore, modified electrodes based on gum/phthalocyanine films were able to detect dopamine at concentrations as low as 10-5 M.
authors.affiliation: DQ and DF, UFPI, CCN, 64049-550, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maysa F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zampa
authors.forename: Ana Cristina F
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Brito
authors.forename: Igor L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Carlos J L
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Constantino
authors.forename: Osvaldo N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Helder N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Valtencir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zucolotto
authors.forename: José Ribeiro
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eiras
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry; D004583:Electrons; D006170:Gum Arabic / Q000737:chemistry*; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D054833:Isoindoles; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D054833:Isoindoles; D006170:Gum Arabic; C013647:phthalocyanine