Adsorption force of polyaniline-coated polystyrene latex particles

Visible polyaniline-latex particles 13 microm in diameter were used for obtaining a quantitative relationship between the adsorption force and the electroactivity at a platinum electrode. An optical cell equipped with wire electrodes was filled with the suspension in hydrochloric acid. When electrode potential was switched between the oxidized and the reduced domains, some adsorbed particles showed color change owing to the electroactivity. The numbers of electroactive and the inactive particles in the suspension were counted, including poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The ratio of the numbers was proportional to the concentration of PVP, as it was in equilibrium. The adsorbed particles were desorbed mechanically by forced flow. The numbers of the desorbed particles did not decrease with an increase in the flow velocity until threshold values. The threshold value for the electroactive particle was 10 times larger than that for the inactive ones, corresponding to 10 times larger adsorption energy of the electroactive particles than of the inactive ones. The adsorption stress was evaluated from the removal of the electropolymerized polyaniline film from the electrode. Then the adsorption area of the particle was estimated.