Biorenewable starch palmitate micelles as promising nanoreactors for conductive polyaniline synthesis

In the study, the biorenewable starch palmitate (S-PA) was achieved by the palmitoyl chloride derivatization of green biomass starch. The amphiphilic molecules S-PA self-assembled into eco-friendly micellar templates through synergistic effects of electrostatic attraction and steric hindrance. These natural polysaccharide-based micellar structures provided an ordered and stable green microenvironment for the linear polymerization of aniline monomers. FTIR spectrum analysis revealed that S-PA micelles facilitated a linear arrangement and more ordered formation of PANI. LCM-Raman spectroscopy further corroborated this. Additionally, the high-resolution N 1s spectrum of PANI obtained in S-PA micelles exhibited a higher abundance of -NH^+·- radicals, consistent with the findings from Raman spectroscopy. Capacitive and heavy metal sensing assessments confirmed that starch-based green surfactants enhance PANI's supercapacitor performance and metal detection sensitivity. This study innovatively developed a green templating technology based on natural polysaccharide self-assembly systems, which created new sustainable pathways for linear polymerization of aniline. Also the interdisciplinary bridge between food science and materials science were built. The achievements not only expand the high-value applications of biorenewable starch, but also significantly enhance PANI performance through green synthesis strategies, fully embodying the design concepts of circular economy and green chemistry.