Abstract
A new class novel poly(n-methyl pyrrole)/nano-Sn(II)SiO3/CNT composite was synthesized using a sol-gel method. The sol of poly(n-methyl pyrrole) (PNMPy) was synthesized into the gel of Sn(II)SiO3 by ranging the mixing volume ratio concentration of inorganic reactant with the fixed mixing volume ratio, i.e., 1:1, of organic polymer followed by intercalating CNTs. The physicochemical characterization was carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and by XRD, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis, and simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) studies. Ion-exchange capacity, distribution studies were also carried out to understand the ion-exchange capabilities. Due to the presence of conducting polymer and functionalized carbon nanotubes (FCNTs), the dc electrical conductivity studies reveal it in highly semiconducting nature in the range of 2.5 x 10(-3)-4.3 x 10(-3) S/cm. On the basis of distribution studies, it was found to be good selective for Cd2+, which is an important environmental pollutant. Due to the selective nature of the composite, an ion-selective membrane electrode was designed for the determination of Cd(D dagger D dagger) ions in solutions. The analytical utility of this membrane was established by employing it as an indicator electrode in electrometric titrations.