Research & Reviews: Journal of Material Sciences
MenuISSN:2321-6212
ISSN:2321-6212
Uliana Pinaeva, Marie-Claude Clochard, Emanuel Balanzat, Travis-Lee Wade, Travis-Cameron Dietz and Mohamad Al-Sheikhly
Ecole Polytechnique-Université Paris Saclay, France CIMAP, France University of Maryland, USA
ScientificTracks Abstracts: Res. Rev. J Mat. Sci
Being a greatest earth’s resource, water should be preserved. Its pollution effects on all living beings due to accumulation of toxic elements. Therefore, the needs of water quality monitoring are necessary to prevent potential contamination disasters. Currently, tolerable limits are in a few μg/L that requires sensitive, environmentally friendly, fast and on site instruments, which are able to analyze heavy metal concentrations in water. To fit the requirements, we are developing a portable electrochemical device based on the functionalized membrane electrodes. These membrane electrodes are made of track-etched functionalized nanoporous poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes of 9 μm thickness covered with gold layers of 35 nm thickness on each side. To create nanoporous membranes, PVDF films were irradiated by swift heavy ions. Chemical etching reveals ion tracks into nanopores. For sub-micron pore diameters, the reactivity of remaining radicals formed during irradiation was found sufficient to initiate freeradical polymerization of vinyl (or allyl) monomers. This method allows any selective polymer issued from radical polymerization to be grafted onto pore walls of PVDF membranes. For instance, poly (acrylic acid) has shown a high selectivity toward Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions, poly (4-vinylpyridine) toward Hg2+. Recently developed bis [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] phosphate (B2MP) grafted inside the nanopores of PVDF membranes were found efficient for pre-concentration of UO2 2+ from aqueous solutions. EPR, FESEM, FTIR were used to study radical content, morphology of the surface and presence of functional groups inside the nanopores. Voltammetry was used to demonstrate the sensitivity of such functionalized membrane electrodes in trace level. A first generation prototype exhibiting its own potentiostat, software and set of membrane electrode pads have been developed. Recent Publications 1. U Pinaeva, M C Clochard, E Balanzat, T L Wade, T C Dietz and M Al–Sheikhly Bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate radiografted onto track-etched PVDF for uranium (VI) determination by means of cathodic stripping voltammetry Haz. Mat. 2018 (submitted) .
Uliana Pinaeva has completed her Master’s degree in Applied Physics at the ENS de Cachan. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in the Laboratoire des Solides Irradiés at the Ecole Polytechnique. Her research interest focuses on “Functionalization of polymers by means of radiation grafting technique for heavy-metal ions extraction and their following analysis by voltammetry”.
E-mail: uliana.pinaeva@polytechnique.edu