Synthesis of Polyacrylamide-Based Redox Active Cryogel Using Click Chemistry and Investigation of Its Electrochemical Properties

Ferrocene (Fc) functionalization of macroporous polyacrylamide-based cryogel (PAAm-Epx) is achieved by click chemistry. For this purpose, firstly, PAAm-Epx cryogel with azide functionality (PAAm-N-3) is prepared by using acryalmide (AAm) as the monomer and allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) as the co-monomer followed by subsequent ring opening reaction of epoxide ring of AGE in acidic medium. Azide groups of PAAm-N-3 is then modified with ethynyl ferrocene, leading to the redox active cryogel (PAAm-Fc) together with preserving the unique characteristic properties of the virgin PAAm-Epx cryogel. Swelling, mechanical and morphological behaviours of PAAm-Epx, PAAm-N-3 and PAAm-Fc are investigated. Detailed characterization of the PAAm-Fc is carried out by several techniques such as FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emmision Spectrometry (ICP-OES, Cyclic (CV), and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV). Electrochemical analysis confirms the electroactivity and the presence of chemically linked ferrocene unit to the cryogel.