Abstract
The synthesized Schiff base polymers were investigated for humidity and chloroform response characteristics. The crystal structure of polymers were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (X-RD) method. We used the QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) method for the analyses of the water steam adsorption and desorption ratio of polymers. The experimental results showed that Schiff base polymers were very sensitive to humidity and chloroform at room temperature and it was possible to use it as a sensing element in moisture sensor applications.
1 Introduction
Schiff base metal-containing polymers have been the focus of a substantial number of studies, in particular the evolution of these polymers, their optical, electrical and optoelectronic properties as an example of refractive index, band gap, and luminescence characteristics. Various methods have been used to synthesize Schiff base polymers such as polycondensation reactions [1] and Oxidative polycondensation [2,3].
Polymer–metal complexes have potential for significant applications just like electrical insulators, semiconductors, high-temperature lubricants and adhesives [4-8]. In recent years, polymer–metal complexes have received attention from many researchers. Among these, methods synthesizing Schiff base polymers have many advantages [2,3]. It is a not-too-expensive and simple method, which makes it very attractive to obtain Schiff base polymers [9].
Polymers are common materials used in humidity sensors [10]. Polymers contain an electrically nonconductor polymer matrix. Polymer inflation due to the sorption of vapor or humidity causes resistivity changes [11].
Alkali salt-polyether complexes, for examples polypropylene oxide and polyethylene oxide (PEO) [12,13], quaternized poly(vinyl pyridine) (PVPy) and polystyrene sulphonate [14] have been used in a successful manner in semiconductor-based or impedance-type humidity sensors [15]. In a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)-based study, the sensor response is highly affected by the properties of the polymers as well as the successful production of polystyrene (PS) thin films [16]. In another study, polymer-based composites, and gas and humidity sensor devices were discussed [17]. Several recent publications have addressed studies regarding the humidity sensor properties of polymers [18,19].
Humidity sensors are of importance in practice and some of the applications are: a) Building and construction, b) Food processing, c) Agriculture, d) Medical and health monitoring, e) Fuel, f) Aerospace, g) Human comfort [20].
The monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as chloroform, benzene, toluene, xylene, etc. has become a serious concern due to regulations in many countries in the world [16].
However, the samples in our study have not been found in the relevant literature.
Previously, synthesis of Schiff base monomers and thermal conductivity and metal complexes, optical and electrochemical properties have been examined. One of these articles published about related research in 2008 [9]. Other related research was published in 2010 [21]. In recent years, different studies have been carried out for the humidity sensor [22,23]. QCM has often been used in dampness sensing applications for several substances [24,25].
We investigate in this study the moisture characteristics of the related item using the QCM method. The QCM method is an effective technique and sensing very well mass alterations on the nanogram scale (∼1 ng/cm2) by measuring the alteration in the resonance frequency [2629]. It reacts to a certain increase in mass at the same time, regardless of which species is precipitated [30,31]. Diffraction technique of X-ray is applied to examine the crystal structure of specimens. The QCM consequences exhibit specimens are extremely sensible to relative humidity alterations. In this study, we have focused solely on the humidity adsorption and desorption kinetics of samples.
2 Experimental
2.1 Synthesis of Materials
The synthesis, characterization, conductivity, and thermal properties of poly (2,3-bis [(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) methylene]diaminopyridine) (PHMPMDAP) and oligo (1,4-bis [(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]phenylenediamine) (OHPMPDA) have been previously published [9,21].
In the first step, two monomers {(2,3-bis[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) methylene] diamino pyridine (HMPMDAP) and 1,4-bis[(2-hydroxyphenyl) methylene] phenylenediamine (HPMPDA)]}were synthesized by condensation reaction. The synthesis of HMPMDAP was carried out using o-vanillin (1.36 g, 0.01mol) and 2,3-diaminopyridine (0.545 g, 0.005 mol) in 15ml of methanol by boiling the mixture under reflux for 3 h. The precipitated monomer was filtered and recrystallized from methanol, and subsequently dried in a vacuum desiccator [9].
The synthesis of HPMPDA was carried out using salicylaldehyde (1.22 g, 0.01 mol) and p-phenylene diamine (0.54 g, 0.005 mol) in 15 ml of methanol in a three-neck round-bottom flask equipped with nitrogen inlet–outlet, condenser and stirring bar. Nitrogen was purged into the flask and the reaction mixture was heated at the reflux temperature for 3 h, under stirring. The intense precipitate obtained was filtered out. The monomer was purified by recrystallization from methanol and dried in vacuum desiccator [21].
In the second step, PHMPMDAP and OHPMPDA were synthesized via oxidative polycondensation reaction of the monomers (HMPMDAP and HPMPDA) using NaOCl solution (30% in water) as oxidant [9,21].
The chemical structures of PHMPMDAP and OHPMPDA are shown in Scheme 1.
The infrared spectra were produced using a Perkin Elmer Spectrum One FT-IR system. The FT-IR spectra were recorded using ATR attachment (4000–550 cm-1). UV-Vis spectra of OHPMPDA and PHMPMDAP were determined by using DMSO. OHPMPDA and PHMPMDAP were characterized by using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra (Bruker Avance DPX-400 and 100.6 MHz, respectively) recorded at 25oC by using deuterated DMSO as a solvent. Tetramethylsilane was used as an internal standard. Thermal data were obtained by using Perkin Elmer Diamond Thermal Analysis. The TGA-DTA measurements were made between 15oC and 1000oC (in N2, rate 10oC/ min). SEC analyses were performed at 30oC using DMF/ MeOH (v/v, 4/1) as an eluent at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. A refractive index detector was used as a detector. The instrument (Shimadzu 10AVp series HPLC-SEC system) was calibrated with a mixture of polystyrene standards (Polymer Laboratories; the peak molecular weights, Mp, between 162 and 500,000) using GPC software for the determination of the molecular weight (Mn), weight-average molecular weight (Mw), and polydispersity index (PDI) of the polymer samples. For SEC investigations a Macherey-Nagel GmbH & Co. (100 Angstrom and 7.7nm diameter loading material) 3.3mm i.d.x300mm columns were used [9,21].
2.2 Structural Properties of Materials
The crystal structure of the synthesized materials is analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and measurements were recorded with a Bruker D2 phaser with CuKa radiation at a wavelength of 1.54 Angstrom over a range of 2θ from 5° to 90° with a scanning rate of 4°/min.
2.3 Moisture Analysis
The QCM technique has calculated the mass alterations in view of moisture molecules having a resolution of ~ 1 ng/cm2. QCM consist of a quartz disk with 0.196 cm2 surface between a pair of gold-covered electrodes. Using the Sauerbrey linear frequency difference relationship the mass alteration (Δm) was calculated on the surface of the quartz crystal. Sauerbrey linear frequency change association [31] is given below:
Here A is the surface of the gold-covered electrodes on the quartz crystal, f0 is the resonant frequency of the basic mode of the QCM crystal, μ is the shear modulus, and p is the density of the quartz substrate.
We identified the variation in the resonance frequency via the QCM model of CHI400A series. These series produced from CH Instruments (Austin, TX, USA). The QCM electrodes used in our study were produced from the AT-cut piezoelectric quartz crystal at oscillation frequencies of 7.995 and 7.950 MHz. The crystal has a density (p) of 2.684 g/cm3 and a shear modulus (μ) of 2.947 X 1011 g/cms2. An alteration of 1 Hz in QCM resonance frequency matches 1.34 ng of materials adsorbed onto the crystal surface in an area of 0.196 cm2. We obtained the measurements by the hybrid system. The hybrid system consist of two sensors: a QCM sensor and an industrial Sensirion humidity sensor. The sensor has the following features: EI-1050 suitable digital relative dampness and temperature sensors have a reaction time of 4 s. We linked the humidity sensor to a Personal Computer (PC). In the PC a Labview program was started to execute. Thus, data was collected by way of the SHT11 (single chip sensor module; Sensirion, Switzerland).
Scheme 2 exhibits the empirical arrangement to analyze the adsorption and desorption kinetics of samples in different humidity conditions between 0% and 100% RH at room temperature. The relative humidity value is varied between 0% and 100% within a test cell having volume of 100 cc by auditing the proportion of wet and dry nitrogen flow via flow-meter control system produced by MKS company from 0 to 1000 sccm over 10 steps. The industrial dampness sensor displays 0% RH at 1000 sccm of dry nitrogen is dispatched through the QCM cell, while it exhibits 100% RH when 1000 sccm of wet nitrogen (received by transferring dry nitrogen into a bubbler kept at a constant temperature of 25°C).
The same measurements made for humidity were repeated for chloroform under the same experimental conditions.
Ethical approval: The conducted research is not related to either human or animal use.
3 Consequences and Discussion
3.1 Structural Characteristic
The XRD results of poly PHMPMDAP demonstrated an amorphous structure with wide peaks at 17 and 24 degree (see: Figure 1).
The XRD results of oligo OHPMPDA show a degree of crystallization in especially 13.90 and other 12.10; 20; peaks seen at 26.22 are evidence of crystallization (see: Figure 2).
3.2 QCM Results
Figure 3 and 4 display, respectively, the adsorption-desorption periods of poly PHMPMDAP covered QCM sensor for humidity and chloroform. The response of negative QCM resonance frequency arises from the change of mass in the QCM sensor. This is because of adsorption and desorption in the QCM sensor. Adsorption and desorption occur due to changes in the concentration of the moist molecules by changing the relative humidity. The response of negative QCM resonance frequency is shown on the vertical axis of the plots, while time is given on the horizontal axis of the plots in Figures 3 and 4, indicating that PHMPMDAP was found to be sensitive to both humidity and chloroform.
The adsorption-desorption periods of OHPMPDA are given in Figure 5. This works similarly to Figure 2. oligo OHPMPDA was subjected to measurement of response to chloroform. Chloroform is one of the organic components with low boiling temperature. The sensor feature has been investigated because chloroform is a harmful gas for health. These same studies have been conducted with respect to chloroform.
4 Conclusion
The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method was applied to investigate the water vapor adsorption and desorption kinetics of poly PHMPMDAP and oligo OHPMPDA samples. Our QCM results have shown that PHMPMDAP and OHPMPDA were very sensitive to chloroform changes over even a short time duration at room temperature. Likewise, while the PHMPMDAP sample is sensitive to humidity, unfortunately the OHPMPDA sample is not sensitive to humidity and cannot be measured.
Both the chemical structures of PHMPMDAP and OHPMPDA have –OH groups. Since the OH group has a capability of binding a hydrogen bond between H2O molecules, both samples are expected to adsorb H2O molecules. Although PHMPMDAP is found to be sensitive to humidity, OHPMPDA is found to be insensitive. The reason is the difference in the side groups (-CH3 and -OCH3 groups) between the chemical structures of OHPMPDA and PHMPMDAP, respectively. There is also pyridine ring instead of phenylene ring in the structure of PHMPMDAP compared to OHPMPDA. .
The main factor is due to presence of long alkyl chain which is adjacent to –OH group, prevents approaching and binding H2O molecules to form a hydrogen bond. On the contrary, OHPMPDA has –OCH3 group which is adjacent to –OH group, which does not prevent H2O molecules to adsorb.
From the measurement results, we have found that the Schiff base polymers that were investigated are sensitive to both humidity (for PHMPMDAP) and chloroform. These features can be used as a sensor in our daily life.
Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.
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© 2018 Ramazan Demir, Ismet Kaya, published by De Gruyter
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