Effects of optical trapping and liquid surface deformation on the laser microdeposition of a polymer assembly in solution

A polymer microassembly is formed by focusing a near-infrared (NIR) laser beam in a thin film of a polymer solution. We have investigated the mechanism of laser microdeposition of a polyfluorene assembly by measuring the surface deformation of the solution film and the morphology of the deposited assembly. It is clearly observed that a rupture is formed at the laser focus in the solution film by using laser interferometric imaging. The time necessary for the rupture formation and the volume of the deposited microassembly are analyzed as a function of laser power. Experimental results suggest that the solution surface deformation induced by local laser heating and optical trapping effects determined the volume of the laser microdeposition. By combining this method with multiple optical trapping, a polymer microassembly with a polygonal morphology is formed on the glass substrate.     

Formation and dielectric properties of polyelectrolyte multilayers studied by a silicon-on-insulator based thin film resistor

The formation of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) is investigated using a silicon-on-insulator based thin film resistor which is sensitive to variations of the surface potential. The buildup of the PEMs at the silicon oxide surface of the device can be observed in real time as defined potential shifts. The influence of polymer charge density is studied using the strong polyanion poly(styrene sulfonate), PSS, combined with the statistical copolymer poly(diallyl-dimethyl-ammoniumchloride-stat-N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide), P(DADMAC-stat-NMVA), at various degrees of charge (DC). The multilayer formation stops after a few deposition steps for a DC below 75%. We show that the threshold of surface charge compensation corresponds to the threshold of multilayer formation. However, no reversion of the preceding surface charge was observed. Screening of polyelectrolyte charges by mobile ions within the polymer film leads to a decrease of the potential shifts with the number of layers deposited. This decrease is much slower for PEMs consisting of P(DADMAC-stat-NMVA) and PSS as compared to PEMs consisting of poly(allylamine-hydrochloride), PAH, and PSS. From this, significant differences in the dielectric constants of the polyelectrolyte films and in the concentration of mobile ions within the films can be derived.     

AC Impedance Studies on the Relationship between the Fractal Characteristics and Electrochemical Properties of Poly(Para‐Phenylene) Film

The effects of experimental conditions on the fractal structure of electrosynthetic polyparaphenylene films were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results indicate that, at the potential range (0‐0.6 V), the film surface fractal dimension rises while the corresponding charge transfer resistances R_ct decrease as charge increases. This is consistent with the oxidized behavior of the conducting polymer. As for the degradation of electrolytes, scanning electron microscopy observations of poly(para‐pheneylene) (PPP) film provide evidence of the close relationship between the degradation of electrolytes and the film morphology, also in good agreement with the electrochemical impedance results interpretation. The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis results present that the relative oxygen content ratio (O/C) of the films increases with the times the electrolyte is used, which reveals that the degradation of the electrolyte may result in a compact and passivation PPP film.     

Microstructure evolution and device performance in solution-processed polymeric field-effect transistors: the key role of the first monolayer

Probing the role of the first monolayer in the evolution of the film polymer microstructure is essential for the fundamental understanding of the charge carrier transport in polymeric field-effect transistors (FETs). The monolayer and its subsequent microstructure of a conjugated polymer [poly(2,5-bis(3-alkylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene), PBTTT] film were fabricated via solution deposition by tuning the dip-coating speed and were then studied as accumulation and transporting layers in FETs. Investigation of the microstructure of the layers prepared at different coating velocities revealed that the monolayer serves as an important base for further development of the film. Significant improvement of the charge carrier transport occurs only at a critical multilayer network density that establishes the required percolation pathways for the charge carriers. Finally, at a low dip-coating speed, the polymer chains are uniaxially oriented, yielding pronounced structural anisotropy and high charge carrier mobilities of 1.3 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) in the alignment direction.     

Adsorption of the protein bovine serum albumin in a planar poly(acrylic acid) brush layer as measured by optical reflectometry

The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a planar poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brush layer has been studied by fixed-angle optical reflectometry. The influence of polymer length, grafting density, and salt concentration is studied as a function of pH. The results are compared with predictions of an analytical polyelectrolyte brush model, which incorporates charge regulation and excluded volume interactions. A maximum in adsorption is found near the point of zero charge (pzc) of the protein. At the maximum, BSA accumulates in a PAA brush to at least 30 vol %. Substantial adsorption continues above the pzc, that is, in the pH range where a net negatively charged protein adsorbs into a negatively charged brush layer, up to a critical pH value. This critical pH value decreases with increasing ionic strength. The adsorbed amount increases strongly with both increasing PAA chain length and increasing grafting density. Experimental data compare well with the analytical model without having to include a nonhomogeneous charge distribution on the protein surface. Instead, charge regulation, which implies that the protein adjusts its charge due to the negative electrostatic potential in the brush, plays an important role in the interpretation of the adsorbed amounts. Together with nonelectrostatic interactions, it explains the significant protein adsorption above the pzc.     

Hyperbranched ferrocenyl polymer film with high charge transport efficiency

The electrochemical behaviors of hyperbranched poly(ferrocenyl-methylsilane) (HPFMS) and linear oligo(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (LOFS) films were studied systematically by cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry under different polymer coverage and solvents. Both poly(ferrocenylsilanes) show stable cyclic voltammographs in LiClO 4 solutions. Compared with LOFS films, HPFMS films exhibit higher charge transport efficiency because of their hyperbranched structure: peak current ( i p) and apparent diffusion coefficient ( D app) for HPFMS films are larger than those for LOFS films, especially at high polymer coverage (3.8 x 10 (-11) vs 3.9 x 10 (-12) cm (2)/s for HPFMS and LOFS film at the coverage of 2.1 x 10 (-6) mol Fc/cm (2)). The conceptual models of electrode processes for HPFMS and LOFS films were proposed to account for higher charge transport efficiency of HPFMS films. It is also found that a solvent with the appropriate solubility parameter and polarity, lower viscosity, and higher dielectric constant is in favor of charge transport through polymer films, which is consistent with the proposed model of electrode process for HPFMS films. These results imply that hyperbranched ferrocenyl polymers have the potential to be excellent chemical sensor materials with convenient synthesis and high sensitivity.     

Modeling of electrocatalytic processes at conducting polymer modified electrodes

A mathematical model of electrocatalytic processes taking place at conducting polymer modified electrodes has been developed. The model takes into account the diffusion of solution species into a polymer film, diffusion of charge carriers within the film, and a chemical redox reaction within the film. The space- and time-resolved profiles for reactant and charge carrier concentration within the film, as well as dependencies of electric current on the concentration of solute species, reaction rate constant and thickness of a polymer layer have been obtained and discussed. It has been shown that, even at a relatively fast diffusion of charge carriers within the conducting polymer film, exceeding the diffusion rate of reactant by two orders of magnitude, electrocatalysis of solute species at conducting polymer modified electrodes proceeds within the polymer film rather than at the outer polymer/solution interface, i.e., electrocatalytic conversion follows a redox-mechanism rather than metal-like one. Based on the results obtained, optimization of reaction system parameters could be made for any particular case to get an optimum efficiency or reactant to product conversion.      

循环伏安法制聚(1,5-萘二胺)膜及其对紫外可见光吸收的研究

利用循环伏安法合成了1,5-萘二胺(1,5DAN)聚合物膜.从反应的介质、膜的厚度以及掺杂酸的种类等方面,讨论了制备电活性聚1,5-萘二胺(P1,5DAN)膜的影响,结果发现,在酸性水溶液中,初始的电活性比较高,但是,随着循环的继续,聚合物膜的电量损耗比较大,而在乙腈溶液中电量损耗较小;同时还发现,P1,5DAN电活性膜的厚度并不随总电量的增加而增厚;活性聚合物膜是受扩散控制,扩散系数(D)与酸根离子有关.最后,结合电化学,讨论了不同掺杂状态下的紫外可见吸收光谱(UV-Vis),并用FT-IR对所合成的聚合物作了结构表征.     

Memcapacitive properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) modified electrodes

We study the capacitive properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin layer that shows memory effects. The capacitance vs. charge plot indicates the history-dependence of the electrochemical responses, for instance capacitance with memory or memcapacitance. The variation of the charge vs. potential exhibits a hysteresis loop that is related to the non-equilibrium properties of the redox switching. The calculation of the energy that can be added to and removed from the memcapacitance system during cycling shows a reactive behavior. This property is due to the electromechanical behaviors of PEDOT film that can store and transform electrochemical energy. Indeed, the charging–discharging processes during the redox switching induce a volume and conformational change of the polymer that in turn influences its electrochemical responses. In the context of bio-inspired information processing systems or bio-inspired circuits, a 3-terminal device exhibiting non-linearity and history-dependence responses is of interest for developing organic memory-circuit elements such as an electrochemical memcapacitance.     

Low-Frequency Glow Discharge Treatment of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Films

The alteration of surface characteristics of the PET-E poly(ethylene terephthalate) film by treatment in the cathode fall of an ac (50 Hz) glow-discharge plasma was studied. The plasma-assisted modification leads to surface hydrophilization which is retained for a long period of time. It was found that the discharge treatment induced a negative charge in the polymer surface layer. The charge density created under different treatment conditions was correlated with the contact angle. The thermally stimulated relaxation and depolarization measurements on the original and the modified film showed that charge buildup in the film during the discharge treatment was due to trapping of injected electrons. From the experimental data, it was inferred that the charge states emerged play the determining role in enhancing the surface energy of modified PET films.     

Ellipsometric examination of electrically conductive films of poly(2,5-thiophenediyl)

A polymer film formed by anodic oxidation of thiophene in acetonitrile on platinum at 2.08 V was examined by ellipsometry. The refraction index and absorption index were determined as a function of the wavelengths. The optical thickness was determined and compared with the electrical charge. Stoichiometric film growth by a two-electron reaction followed this comparison. The film properties studied were almost independent of the potential between −0.1 and +2.08 V. The time dependence of the ellipsometric parameter showed the film growth to be approximately linear with square root of time, typical for a diffusion controlled reaction.     

The role of dipole—dipole interactions in the formation of the structure of amorphous Teflon AF2400 and complexation of acetone with perfluorodioxolane rings

FTIR spectroscopy investigation have shown that the contact of acetone with the film of Teflon AF2400 led to changes in the intensities of some absoption bands of the polymer and to the splitting of the stretching vibration band ν_C=O of acetone. The theoretical vibration spectrum of a model of AF2400 repeat unit was obtained. It is in good agreement with the experimental spectrum of the film of this polymer. The bands, whose intensities change during the contact of the AF2400 film with acetone, belong to the stretching and deformation vibrations of the C-F bond of the dioxolane ring as a whole. Structural, energy, and electron characteristics of a complex of acetone with the perfluorodioxolane ring were calculated by the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method. The dipole-dipole character of interaction of acetone with the repeat unit of AF2400 with the involvement of the whole dioxolane ring was demonstrated. The polarizabilies of the C=O bonds in acetone and the C-F bonds in the dioxolane ring of the polymer are substantially changed, which is in good agreement with the experimental IR spectrum of the AF2400 film that had been in the contact with acetone. The results of quantum chemical and molecular dynamics calculations testify the orthogonal-block structure of the chains in AF2400, which explains great stiffness and a large free volume of this polymer.     

电化学聚对苯膜的现场ESR及其性能研究

本文用现场电化学-ESR联合测试的技术, 对电化学聚对萃膜在浓H_2SO_4中的性质进行了研究, 结果表明: 聚对苯膜具有高的电导率和相对低的自旋磁化率, 极化子与偶极化子为主要导电者, 并在一定的电位下相互转化, 自旋粒子有很大的离域性。膜中链与链之间可能存在部分的氧桥结构, 而引起体系结构的某些变化, 使聚对苯膜的电导提高以及掺杂容易进行。掺杂量受电位控制, 浓H_2SO_4中的HSO_4~-嵌入/脱嵌的电化学可逆性很好, 最大掺杂量可相当于每5个苯环单元氧化出一个正电荷, 可望将电化学聚对苯用作稳定的二次电池电极材料。     

Study on the interaction between anionic and cationic latex particles and Portland cement

The interaction between organic latex polymers and the surface of hydrating cement was investigated by measuring the zeta potential and adsorbed amount of polymer on cement. First, differently charged model latex particles were synthesized in aqueous media by well-known emulsion polymerization technique. The latex polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Electrokinetic latex surface properties were investigated by means of streaming potential measurements using a particle charge detector (PCD). It is shown that the anionic latexes adsorb a considerable amount of Ca²⁺ from the cement pore solution. Next, adsorption of the latex polymers on the surface of hydrating cement was confirmed by zeta potential measurements using the electroacoustic method. A water to cement ratio in the cement paste as low as 0.5 was studied, representing actual conditions in mortar and concrete. Additionally, adsorption isotherms were determined in a sedimentation test using the depletion method. For all latex polymers, Langmuir type adsorption isotherms were found. The latex dosages required to achieve saturated adsorption on the cement surface obtained from zeta potential measurements correspond well with those determined in the sedimentation test. Electron microscopy photographs confirm that the charged latex polymers adsorb selectively on surface areas of hydrating cement showing opposite charge. This way, domains of organic latex polymers exist on the cement surface. They provide adhesion between the inorganic cement matrix and the organic polymer film formed later on by particle coalescence as a result of cement hydration and drying.     

Field‐induced bending deformation of various rubber films

The field‐induced bending deformation of various rubber films was measured. The deformation tended to increase with the increase in the conductivity of the films. In addition, the effect of doping with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) was also studied. This doping significantly enhanced the bending deformation and conductivity when the film was made of acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber. The tip of the film (5 × 30 mm², 0.28 mm thick) moved by 3 mm due to the bending deformation induced by the applied voltage (140 V). Such a rubber film may find applications as a polymer actuator. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous electroanalysis of dopamine and ascorbic acid using poly (N,N-dimethylaniline)-modified electrodes

Glassy carbon (GC) electrode is modified with an electropolymerized film of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA). This polymer (PDMA) film-coated GC electrode is used to electrochemically detect dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). Polymer film has the positive charge in its backbone, and in neutral solution DA exists as the positively charged species whereas AA exists as the negatively charged one. In cyclic voltammetric measurements, favorable ionic interaction (i.e., electrostatic attraction) between AA and PDMA film causes a large negative shift of the oxidation potential for AA compared to that at the bare electrode. Oxidation potential for DA is positively shifted due to the electrostatic repulsion. The PDMA film shows hydrophobicity by incorporating uncharged hydroquinone molecule within the film. DA is also incorporated into the film due to hydrophobic attraction even though DA has a positive charge. The responses of DA and AA at polymer-modified electrodes largely change with the concentration of the monomer (i.e., 0.2, 0.1 and 0.05 M DMA) used in electropolymerization and thus with the film thickness. Hydrophobicity of the polymer film shows great influence on the voltammetric responses of both DA and AA. In square wave voltammetric measurements, the PDMA film-coated electrode can separate the DA and AA oxidation potentials by about 300 mV and can detect DA at its low concentration (e.g., 0.2 microM) in the presence of 1000 times higher concentration of AA, which is close to the physiological level. AA oxidizes at more negative potential than DA. The electrode response is not affected by the oxidized product of AA. So unlike the bare electrode, the fouling effect as well as the catalytic oxidation of AA by the oxidized form of DA are eliminated at the PDMA film-coated GC electrode. The electrode exhibits the stable and sensitive response to DA.     

Electrosurface properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films irradiated by heavy ions and track membranes based on these films

The streaming potential method realized in a slit-like setup using 10^–4–10^–2 mol/L KCl solutions has been employed to study the electrosurface characteristics of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films, both initial and irradiated by heavy ions, as well as track membranes with pore sizes of 50 and 210 nm made from these films. Their ζ potentials and surface charges have been calculated. The data obtained suggest that irradiation of the polymer films by heavy ions reduce the ζ potential and surface charge. However, as a result of film etching during the preparation of the track membranes, the ζ potential and surface charge increase and exceed the corresponding values for the initial film.     

聚丁二烯有序多孔膜在热缩型聚乙烯膜上的收缩

采用溶剂散逸自组装制备了聚丁二烯(PB)有序多孔膜。水珠能在冷的高分子溶液表面凝结形成有序的阵列,溶剂蒸发后,高分子材料按照水珠排列的形貌形成了有序多孔膜。两性共聚物的加入能够起到稳定水滴的作用,从而确保多孔膜成为有序的结构。利用聚乙烯可收缩膜将聚丁二烯多孔膜收缩2次,得到长方形、梭形、条形和哑铃形的孔。孔的尺寸从微米级收缩至亚微米级,并对产生各种形状的机理进行了研究。     

Minimizing analyte electrolysis in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using a redox buffer coated emitter electrode

An emitter electrode with an electroactive poly(pyrrole) (PPy) polymer film coating was constructed for use in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). The PPy film acted as a surface‐attached redox buffer limiting the interfacial potential of the emitter electrode. While extensive oxidation of selected analytes (reserpine and amodiaquine) was observed in positive ion mode ESI using a bare metal (gold) emitter electrode, the oxidation was suppressed for these same analytes when using the PPy‐coated electrode. A semi‐quantitative relationship between the rate of oxidation observed and the interfacial potential of the emitter electrode was shown. The redox buffer capacity, and therefore the lifetime of the redox buffering effect, correlated with the oxidation potential of the analyte and with the magnitude of the film charge capacity. Online reduction of the PPy polymer layer using negative ion mode ESI between analyte injections was shown to successfully restore the redox buffering capacity of the polymer film to its initial state. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polyelectrolyte adsorption and layer-by-layer assembly: Electrochemical control

Thin films formed via the adsorption or layer-by-layer assembly of charged polymers are important in many sensing, energy, and biomedical applications. When the underlying substrate is a (semi)conductor, the opportunity exists to influence film formation and film properties through an applied electric potential. The recent literature on electrochemical influence of polyelectrolyte-based films is reviewed, with a focus on monolayer and multilayer film assembly and disassembly. Of particular interest are monolayer films grown to a tailored thickness on the 10–100 nm scale, and polyelectrolyte multilayer films controllably disassembled, upon application of a modest electric potential. Experimental observations are discussed in terms of governing factors such as interfacial pH and ionic composition, counter-ion correlations, charge regulation, dielectric discontinuity, and short-range polymer–polymer interactions. Recent modeling efforts are also briefly addressed.