Photooxidation of some metallocenes in a polymer matrix

The changes in the electronic absorption spectra (UV-Vis) of some metallocene-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin films containing chloroform molecules as impurities were studied after photoexcitation in the nitrogen atmosphere. Photoexcitations were made by monochromatic radiation (using a Xe-lamp source and a monochromator) at an interval of few nanometers in the spectral range 210-750 nm. The changes in spectra were studied as a function of photoexcitation time (duration), amount of metallocene in the film and the amount of chloroform molecules present in the film. Occurrence of photoinduced charge-transfer between some metallocenes and chloroform molecules confined in the PMMA thin films was observed, which indicated photooxidation of the metallocenes in the polymer matrix. Photoresponse in the case of ferrocene derivatives was observed to decrease with the increase in the value of para- Hammett constant for the substituent attached to the ferrocene unit and also with increasing half-wave potential for the ferrocene derivatives. Photoeffects on the metallocenes having different central metal atom were studied and it was noticed that the photoeffects on the metallocenes with "18 valence electrons", as in ferrocene and ruthenocene, favored the occurrence of photoinduced charge-transfer between the metallocene and chloroform molecules present in a PMMA film. The photooxidation of a metallocene in a PMMA thin film resulted in an enhanced photoconductivity of the polymeric film.     

Spectroscopic studies on the photoeffects on some metallocenes in the presence of chloroform molecules confined in poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films

The changes in the electronic absorption spectra (UV-Vis) (after photoexcitation) of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin films doped with a metallocene and containing chloroform molecules as impurities, have been studied as a function of photoexcitation wavelength (210-750 nm), photoexcitation time (duration), amount of metallocene in the film and amount of chloroform molecules present in the film. Photoeffects on the metallocenes have been observed, which depend significantly on the nature of the central metal atom of the metallocene and the results have been discussed on the basis of the electronic configuration of the metallocenes, which is under study.     

Fluctuations in absorbance observed for photoexcited ferrocene-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films containing chloroform molecules as impurities

The time-dependent changes in absorbance in the case of ferrocene-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films containing chloroform molecules have been investigated after photoexcitation in nitrogen atmosphere. Photoexcitations have been made by the monochromatic light (using Xe-source and a monochromator) in the UV range. An increase in absorbance associated with spectacular fluctuations in its value, has been noticed. The nature of the variation in the fluctuations has been studied as a function of time (duration) of photoexcitation, photoexcitation wavelength and concentration of ferrocene in the film. The observed results have been discussed considering the role of secondary reaction after photoexcitation as well as the diffusion of small chemical species in the polymer matrix.     

Charge-transfer spectra of ferrocene in halocarbon solvents under photoexcitation

The changes in the electronic absorption spectra of ferrocene in the halocarbon solvents chloroform and carbontetrachloride have been investigated under photoexcitation in nitrogen atmosphere. Photoexcitations have been made with monochromatic light (using an Xe-source and a monochromator), at intervals of a few nanometers in the spectral range 220–750 nm. Analysing the spectra by a modified method the position of the charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) band has been located for both the solvents. The position of the CTTS band in the case of carbontetrachloride solution located (320 nm) by the present study is different from the previously reported value (307 nm), while from the previous studies the position of the CTTS band in the case of the spectra of ferrocene in chloroform was not clear. From the present investigation, the changes in spectra after photoexcitation studied as a function, the concentration of ferrocene in the solution and the time (duration) of photoexcitations, have been observed to be systematic. Using the position of the new band (320 nm) for the CTTS transition in the case of carbontetrachloride, ionization potential of ferrocene has been estimated and the estimated value has shown excellent agreement with the experimental value indicating the exactness of the newly located CTTS band position.     

Functionalized mesoporous silica films as a matrix for anchoring electrochemically active guests

Mesoporous silica thin films were shown to be an appropriate matrix for immobilization of discrete electroactive moieties, yielding uniform transparent thin film electrodes with defined texture and enhanced electrochemical activity. The mesoporous silica films prepared on conducting FTO-coated glass substrate were postsynthetically functionalized. Alkoxysilanes were used as precursors for subsequent grafting via ionic or covalent bonds of representative electroactive species, such as polyoxometalate PMo12O(40)3-, hexacyanoferrate(III), and ferrocene. The electrochemically active concentration within the silica-based composite electrodes achieves 90, 260, and 60 micromol cm(-3) for polyoxometalate, hexacyanoferrate(III), and ferrocene, respectively. The amount of molecules involved in the charge-transfer sequence is proportional to the film thickness and comparable to the total amount of embedded guests. Thus, eventually the whole bulk volume of the modified silica films is electrochemically accessible. Immobilization in the chemically modified silica matrix alters the redox potential of the electroactive molecules. Electron exchange between the adjacent redox centers (electron hopping) is proposed as a possible charge propagation pathway through the insulating silica matrix, which is supported by the fact that the high charge uptake is observed also for the hybrid electrodes with the covalently anchored redox guests.     

Crystals Array via Oriented Nucleation and Growth Induced by Smectic E Mesophase of C7-T-BTBT

Long-range order crystalline thin films of organic semiconductors have attracted wide attention owing to their high charge carrier mobility. However, uncontrolled crystal nucleation and growth during the thin film drying process cause the formation of grain boundaries, thereby limiting the long-range order. Herein, we achieved the oriented nucleation and growth of organic semiconductors by off-centre spin-coating at the temperature of the smectic E(SmE) liquid crystal mesophase, and then followed by Ostwald ripening during solvent vapour annealing. The thin film of 2-(5-heptylthiophen-2-yl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b] [1]benzothiophne (C7-T-BTBT) blended with 40%(mass fraction) poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) was prepared by off-centrespin-coating at SmE mesophase(170℃), followed by solvent vapour annealing in chloroform for 24 h(chloroform is a good solvent for C7-T-BTBT and PMMA). The C7-T-BTBT molecules grew to rod-like crystals, which were mostly arranged parallel to each other. The crystal growth was perfect and resulted in a single crystal. The average length of the crystals was approximately 87 μm. Moreover, the highest charge carrier mobility is 1.62 cm²·V⁻¹·s⁻¹ as against that of the film prepared at 25℃(0.06 cm²·V⁻¹·s⁻¹).     

The influence of nanoparticle fillers on the morphology of a spin-cast thin film polymer blend

Polymer/nanoparticle composite films are receiving growing attention thanks to their potential for application in ultra-thin electronic and optical devices. Polymer blend demixing has been shown to be a suitable technique for the structuring of polymer thin films and the patterning of nanoparticles (NP) within them. In this work we show that the morphology of thin polymer films made by spin-casting a polymer blend solution containing NP fillers on a surface depends strongly on the concentration of NP fillers. More specifically, polystyrene/polymethylmethacrylate (PS/PMMA) films formed from a toluene solution, and which demix following a nucleation and growth mechanism, were studied. It was found that both the height and the surface density of PMMA domains increased as the concentration of CoPt:Cu NPs in the film was increased. We find that similar effects are induced in a NP-free PS/PMMA demixed film upon increasing the molecular weight of the PS molecules. This suggests that under certain conditions the NPs and the polymer molecules in the blend do not behave as separate species but form aggregates.     

锌酞菁-紫精-二茂铁三元化合物分子内光致电子转移及光电转换性能的研究

本文合成了锌酞菁、紫精与二茂铁经共价键相连接的两亲性新的三元化合物,测定了它的吸收光谱、荧光光谱、荧光寿命和瞬态吸收及其衰减,并与二元化合物锌酞菁-紫精进行了比较,结果表明:在DMF和表面活性剂溶液中三元化合物都发生了有效的分子内光致电子转移反应,给出了稳定的电荷转移离子对,其寿命长达100μs以上,表明存在着一个两步电子转移过程,用LB膜技术成功地组装了三元化合物的分子,并检测到明显的光电效应。     

Synthesis of ferrocene-grafted poly(p-phenylene-ethynylenes) and control of electrochemical behaviors of their thin films

New ferrocene-coated poly(p-phenylene-ethynylenes) (PPEs) with end capping groups of protected thiol were prepared by a palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reaction. Ferrocene groups were covalently attached to polymers A and B through ethylene oxide tethers and to polymer C through methylene tethers. Polymers A and B are soluble in common solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, methylene chloride, acetone, dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and polymer C is soluble in toluene, THF, chloroform, and methylene chloride. Polymers A-C display low quantum yield, caused by electron-transfer quenching of ferrocene groups as electron donors. The polymer thin films were prepared through incubation of gold electrodes in THF solutions containing the polymers for 2 days. Ferrocene in thin films of polymers A and B display significantly faster electron-transfer rate than that of polymer C. Hydrophilic ethylene oxide side chains of polymers A and B decrease formal potential of tethered ferrocene groups because of electron-donating effect from ethylene oxide side chains, which stabilizes the ferrocenium ion and leads to a cathodic shift of the redox wave.     

Charge transfer events in semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes

Electron-donating ferrocene units have been attached to SWNTs, with different degrees of functionalization. By means of a complementary series of novel spectroscopic techniques (i.e., steady-state and time-resolved), we have documented that mutual interactions between semiconducting SWNT and the covalently attached electron donor (i.e., ferrocene) lead, in the event of photoexcitation, to the formation of radical ion pairs. In the accordingly formed radical ion pairs, oxidation of ferrocene and reduction of SWNT were confirmed by spectroelectrochemistry. It is, however, shown that only a few semiconducting SWNTs [i.e., (9,4), (8,6), (8,7), and (9,7)] are susceptible to photoinduced electron transfer processes. These results are of relevant importance for the development of SWNT-based photovoltaics.     

Observation of the anisotropic photoinduced magnetization effect in Co-Fe Prussian blue thin films fabricated by using clay Langmuir-Blodgett films as a template

Thin films of cobalt-iron cyanide (Co-Fe Prussian blue) have been fabricated by means of the modified Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method using a smectite clay mineral (montmorillonite). In this combined method, clay LB films play a template role in the formation of the Co-Fe Prussian blue thin layer. The films were revealed to possess a well-organized structure not only in perpendicular directions to the film surface but also in parallel directions to the film surface. The photoinduced electron transfer from the iron ion to the cobalt through the bridging cyanide in the films occurred at low temperature (8 K), similar to that in the bulk Co-Fe Prussian blue. The films clearly exhibited magnetic anisotropy with regards to the direction of the applied magnetic field. Moreover, the photoinduced magnetization effect in the films was also found to be anisotropic.     

Polymer-based bilayer interfaces for electrochemical rectification

In this paper, the electrochemical current rectification phenomenon exhibited at an electrochemical interface constituted by a glassy carbon electrode covered with a bilayer of polymer films is discussed. The authors have shown that Methylene Blue (MB) redox species can be confined to a very thin insulating polymer film formed from orthophenylene diamine. The poly(opd) film exhibited excellent blocking properties to redox molecules in solution. On the other hand, the insulating poly(opd) film trapped with MB could mediate electron transfer between the redox molecules in solution and the electrode. Further, a second polymeric layer (Nafion film) trapped with ferrocene redox species was formed as the outer layer over the inner poly (opd) film containing MB. This bilayer-modified electrode, due to the significant difference in the redox potentials of the MB and ferrocene species immobilized in the inner and outer layers, respectively, exhibits unidirectional current flow and the results of the voltammetric investigations on the modified electrodes are described in this communication.     

Tubular or subsurface morphology of octabutoxyphthalocyanine upon self-assembly in polymer matrices: effect of the casting solvent

Spontaneous phase-separated, controlled aggregate structures of photo- and electroactive molecules in polymer matrices are of interest for device fabrication. We show that the self-assembly of octabutoxyphthalocyanine (Pc) in polymer matrices leads to tubular morphology of Pc when the film is prepared with tetrachloroethane (TCE) and subsurface droplet morphology with chloroform. The same morphology is seen with both bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPAPC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the matrix. The subsurface morphology results from the rapid association of Pc in the polymer matrix, as the film forms. With the tubular morphology in the films prepared with TCE, percolation threshold is reached with a concentration of Pc as low as 3% (wt) in the polymer. Such phase-separated self-assembly occurs, without any annealing of the films. Even in the absence of the polymer, Pc crystallized from TCE also shows tubular morphology, whereas it exhibits a columnar morphology with chloroform. X-ray diffraction of Pc crystallized from either solvent shows the columnar stacking of the Pc molecules. However, the morphology is tubular when TCE is used. We attribute the difference in the morphology to the higher viscosity of TCE and the diffusion-limited growth, which causes the tubular morphology, whereas the instantaneous self-assembly in less-viscous chloroform leads to droplets. The solvent effect observed here could be used to tailor the morphology of such photoconductive molecules in polymer matrices.     

Multiple glass-transition temperatures in thin supported films of isotactic PMMA as revealed by enhanced Raman scattering

The glass-transition temperature, Tg, of isotactic PMMA thin films has been measured for four thicknesses by enhanced Raman spectroscopy and ellipsometry. This was made possible by inserting a silica spacer layer between the film and the substrate. The use of such a spacer drastically improves the sensitivity of Raman scattering measurements. The improvement in the sensitivity allows us to study phenomena involving changes in molecular dynamics, such as the phase transition, and to probe the existence in very thin films of several thickness-dependent transition temperatures, Tg(h). This in turn is interpreted as the occurrence in the film of a layered structure. The influence of the polymer concentration on the conformation of the surface adsorbed polymer layer and therefore on Tg(h) is discussed.     

Atomic force microscopy investigation of asymmetric diblock copolymer morphologies in thin films

Microphase separation and the resulting morphology of asymmetric diblock copolymers of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) in thin films have been investigated by atomic force microscopy. Copolymers consisted of a short block of PCL (M_n∼2500-4500 g/mole) and a longer second block of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(styrene) (PS) or poly(cyclohexene oxide) (PCHO). Tendency for microphase separation above the glass transition temperature of the second block (PMMA, PS or PCHO) resulted in a pitted morphology on the surface of the thin films. This tendency was strongest for PMMA and weakest for PCHO. The presence of up to 54% PMMA homopolymer in PCL-PMMA block copolymer did not prevent the formation of such pitted morphology on the surface. The effect of the chemical structure of the second block and the possible orientations of the block copolymer molecules in thin films are discussed.     

Complexes in polymers IV. FTIR microscopic characterization of thin organic polymer films containing embedded transition-metal carbonyl complexes

Thin films of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene-polyacrylonitrile copolymer (PS-AN), containing various embedded transition-metal complexes, have been studied by FTIR microscopy. The spatial distributions of the transition-metal carbonyl complexes throughout the thin organic polymer films have been determined by a two-dimensional IR mapping procedure. The spectral variations observed in the distribution of the metal carbonyls throughout the different polymer films are discussed. The IR data show that the technique used to prepare the organometallic-embedded thin films (viz. freeze-drying of solutions followed by hot mechanical pressing of the residues) does in general lead to homogeneous films which may eventually find industrial application, e.g. as membrane sensors for small molecules.     

Thin films composed of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles and myoglobin for humidity detection at room temperature.

Optically transparent and electrically conductive nanocomposite thin films consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and myoglobin molecules that glue GNPs and MWCNTs together are fabricated for the first time on glass substrates from aqueous solution. The nanocomposite thin film is capable of varying its resistance, impedance or optical transmittance at room temperature in response to changes in ambient humidity. The conductometric sensitivity to relative humidity (RH) of the nanocomposite thin film is compared with those of the pure and Mb-functionalized MWCNT layers. The pure MWCNT layer shows a small increase in its resistance with increasing RH due to the effect of p-type semiconducting nanotubes present in the film. In contrast, a four times higher sensitivity to RH is observed for both the nanocomposite and Mb-functionalized MWCNT thin films. The sensitivity enhancement is attributable to swelling of the thin films induced by water absorption in the presence of Mb molecules, which increases the inter-nanotube spacing and thereby causes a further increase of the film resistance. A humidity change as low as DeltaRH=0.3 % has been readily detected by conductometry using the nanocomposite thin film.     

四（2,4—二叔戊基苯氧基）酞菁铜（Ⅱ）的合成及其LB膜

合成了标题酞菁铜衍生物,并通过元素分析,高压液相色谱,紫外光谱,红外光谱,核磁共振谱,电镜,顺磁共振谱及质谱加以确认。该化合物在稀氯仿溶液和LB膜中各以单,双分子缔合的形式存在。Z型沉积形成的单层LB膜对氨气有很高的灵敏度和选择性。     

Side chain variations on a series of dicyanovinyl-terthiophenes: a photoinduced absorption study

We characterize a series of dicyanovinyl-terthiophenes with different alkyl side chains. Variations of side chain substitution patterns and length mainly affect the morphology of the evaporated thin films, which in turn sensitively influences properties like absorption, energy levels, and thin film roughness. To investigate changes in transfer processes between electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) molecules due to side chain variations, we use photoinduced absorption spectroscopy (PIA). PIA probes the long-living photoexcited species at the D-A interface: triplet excitons, cations, and anions. For a blend layer of dicyanovinyl-terthiophene and the electron acceptor fullerene C(60), an energy transfer via the singlet and triplet manifold of C(60) occurs. The recombination dynamics of the triplet excitons reveal two components that differ in their lifetime and generation rate by 1 order of magnitude. By comparing the dynamics of triplet excitons in neat and blend layers, we estimate the energy transfer efficiency in dependence of the type of side chain. The compound with methyl side chains shows remarkable properties regarding thin film absorption, surface roughness, and energy transfer efficiency, which we attribute to the specific nanomorphology of the thin film.     

Growth of organic n-conductors on thin polymer films for use in organic field effect transistors

Thin films of different polymers - poly(styrene) (PS), poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinylcarbazole) (PVCz), poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) - were deposited by spin-coating or by vapor deposition. On these polymers, thin films of (hexadecafluorophthalocyaninato)-oxovanadium (F₁₆PcVO) were prepared by physical vapor deposition. The growth of these films was monitored in situ by optical spectroscopy. The optical absorbance spectra were analyzed based on the coupling of transition dipoles to obtain information on the intermolecular arrangement of chromophores in the films. In all of these samples, the molecules are oriented with their molecular plane preferentially perpendicular to the substrate surface. This gives the desired overlap of the π-systems for electric conductance parallel to the substrate. Differences in the interactions were detected when deposition temperatures below or above the glass transition temperature of a given polymer were compared. The morphology of the polymer films and the deposited semiconductors were investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the chosen substrate on the film structure is determined. The optical and electric properties of the films could thereby be influenced and the applicability of such films as active layers in organic thin film transistors is discussed.