Redox Responsive Release of Hydrophobic Self-Healing Agents from Polyaniline Capsules

Redox-responsive nanocapsules consisting of conductive polyaniline and polypyrrole shells were successfully synthesized by using the interface of miniemulsion droplets as a template for oxidative polymerizations. The redox properties of the capsules were investigated by optical spectroscopies, electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Self-healing (SH) chemicals such as diglycidyl ether or dicarboxylic acid terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-DE or PDMS-DC) were encapsulated into the nanocapsules during the miniemulsion process and their redox-responsive release was monitored by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The polyaniline capsules exhibited delayed release under oxidation and rapid release under reduction, which make them promising candidates for anticorrosion applications.