Facile and large-scale synthesis of poly(m-phenylenediamine) nanobelts with high surface area and superior dye adsorption ability

Abstract

Uniform poly(m-phenylenediamine) (PmPD) nanobelts have been synthesized through chemical oxidative polymerization of m-phenylenediamine by using white cetyl trimethyl ammonium persulfate (CTAP) powders as oxidants. Results from the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method indicated that the surface area of PmPD reached as high as 284.5 m² g⁻¹. The influence of high surface area on Orange G adsorption was examined. The Orange G adsorbance of PmPD can reach 469.5 mg g⁻¹. The adsorption process can be better described by the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The acid doping of PmPD nanobelts could produce better adsorption performance for Orange G The superior performance of PmPD nanobelts makes them hopeful functional materials for dye removal.