Aniline‐nonamer segmented polyurea: A facile electrocatalyst for detection of ascorbic acid

Abstract

An unprecedented A‐B‐A type block copolymer electroactive polyurea (EPU) is designed and synthesized with tetraaniline dimer and 1,4‐phenylenediamine via an oxidative coupling, where aniline–nonamer and hexamethylene di‐urea constitute two segments. The EPU was characterized by spectral techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and UV–vis spectra. The structural characterization of the prepared EPU was obtained by powder X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. EPU reorganizes into core–shell microcapsules in presence of aqueous acetic acid/n‐octane interface. These microcapsules exhibited a wide range of pH responses in their absorption spectrum (UV–vis). The EPU is modified as carbon paste electrode which exhibits a remarkable electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA, Vitamin C) in 0.2 M and pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution. The carbon paste electrode is useful in sensing as low as 50 µM of ascorbic acid. This can open up new opportunities for fast, simple detection of AA providing a promising platform for sensor/biosensor designs for AA detection. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46630.