An Easy Synthesis of Polyaniline Through Bacterial Nanocellulose Membranes Obtained from Kombucha Tea Fermentation

Abstract

Composites with polyaniline (Pani) in cellulosic matrices have been studied as Pani electrodes in many applications, but the presence of an insulating network causes a reduction in conductivity, and the electrochemical properties of the composites are difficult evaluate. This work, propose an easy synthesis of Pani into a membrane of bacterial nanocellulose produced from Kombucha tea fermentation by using the well-known aniline interfacial polymerization. To promote the polymer formation through all the large surface area of the three-dimensional (3D) membrane, the monomer and an oxidant are forced to penetrate the cellulosic matrix by vacuum filtration using different methodologies. Optical and scanning electron microscopies (SEMs) show that Pani is deposited even on the inner surface of the bacterial nanocellulose membrane, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) shows that the redox properties of Pani are maintained. Finally, higher current peaks are used to propose an easy methodology to produce Pani/bacterial nanocellulose electrodes with better electrochemical activity.