Nanocomposite Containing Cross‐linked Poly(Methyl‐Methacrylate)/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube as a Selective Y³⁺ Sensor Probe

This article explains how composite thin films, that are made of both cross‐linked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and reinforced with multi‐walled carbon nanotube (CNTs), are designed, fabricated and developed for selective cationic sensing applications. The C‐PMMA‐CNTs a‐e nanocomposites were prepared by in situ cross‐linking reaction technique using 4,4′‐diaminobiphenyl (DABP) as the cross‐linking agent. Variable loading of CNTs varied from 2 to 40 wt% was utilized during the cross‐linking process. The nanocomposite films have been structurally characterized by Fourier transform infrared and XRD and the results confirm the incorporation of CNTs in the C‐PMMA matrix, while the dispersion of CNTs in C‐PMMA was characterized using SEM and TEM. The dispersion of CNTs in the composites was excellent, even at high CNTs loading as indicated by SEM and TEM. TEM images of C‐PMMA‐CNTs nanocomposites reveal a core‐shell structure in which CNTs as the core and C‐PMMA as the shell. The thermal features of the nanocomposite films were investigated through their TGA and DTG data. The results confirmed the importance of CNTs content in enhancing the thermal stability of the nanocomposite. The desired yttrium (Y 3+ ) cation sensor was fabricated using glassy carbon electrode coating with a thin uniform layer of synthesized C‐PMMA‐CNTs e nanocomposite. A calibration curve was plotted as current vs. concentration of Y 3+ ion. The resulted calibration curve is found linear over linear dynamic range of 0.1 nM–0.1 mM. The slope of calibration curve is used to measure the sensitivity (27.2943 μA μM −1 cm −2 ), limit of detection (3.48 ± 0.17 pM), and limit of quantification (LOQ; 11.6 ± 0.57 pM) of Y 3+ cation. It is also found as reliable sensor to detect Y 3+ ion in real environmental samples. Considering the contamination of environment, this research might be reliable way for the development of future prospective cationic sensor for the safety of healthcare and ecological fields. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1673–E1684, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers