Studying electronic transport in polyazulene-ionic liquid systems using infrared vibrational spectroscopy

This paper presents an in situ spectroelectrochemical characterization of polyazulene (PAz) and PAz-C(60) composite films using Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. In situ FTIR-ATR spectra were recorded simultaneously as the films were charged and discharged electrochemically. The aim was to clarify how the use of ILs and the addition of C(60) affected the electronic transport and structural changes occurring in PAz during electrochemical charging. We found that electrosynthesis of PAz in an IL lowered the oxidation potential of the film and improved its electroactivity. The FTIR-ATR data also suggest that PAz with a longer effective conjugation length is obtained during electrosynthesis when using ILs. With in situ FTIR-ATR it is possible to quite accurately determine the onset potential for oxidation/reduction. These values are important since they determine the suitability of the polymer for a specific application. Our experiments indicate that two types of charge carriers are formed during electrochemical oxidation of PAz in an IL. Furthermore, their formation is strongly affected by the addition of C(60) into the film. The type of charge carrier formed affects the electronic and possibly also ionic transport within the film. The inclusion of C(60) into PAz influenced the optical and structural properties considerably. In situ FTIR-ATR is also an extremely useful method for studying the potential stability of an IL during electrochemical cycling. We showed that cathodic decomposition of N,N-butyl-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMP][Tf(2)N]) occurs at less negative potentials than those determined electrochemically.     

Morphology,Structure, and Dynamics of Pentacene Thin Films and Their Nanocomposites with [C2C1im][NTf2] and [C2C1im][OTF] Ionic Liquids

In this study, a homogeneous thin film growth of pentacene onto indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass surfaces is explored using a high-resolution and reproducible vapor deposition methodology. Moreover, vacuum thermal evaporation of ionic liquids (ILs) ([C₂C₁im][NTf₂] and [C₂C₁im][OTF]) onto ITO, gold/palladium (AuPd) and pentacene surfaces were performed. A greater wettability behavior of ILs is observed for surfaces containing AuPd. Sequential and simultaneous depositions of ILs and pentacene were explored. Simultaneous depositions lead to the formation of nanocomposites films, consisting of IL micro- and nanodroplets covered by pentacene layers. Plasma surface treatment was used to induce the ILs droplets coalescence and explore the dynamics and phase separation of the nanocomposites. The [C₂C₁im][OTF] droplets were found to be completely covered with pentacene, which suggests a great affinity between cation-anion pairs and the aromatic moiety. Pentacene films and their nanocomposites with ILs exhibit a typical optical band gap of E_gap=1.77 eV, indicating that the nanocomposite phase domains are large enough to behavior as the bulk.     

Amperometric Immunosensor for Prostate Specific Antigen Based on Gold Nanoparticles/Ionic Liquid/Chitosan Hybrid Film

The hybrid film of gold nanoparticles/ionic liquid-chitosan (GNP/IL-Ch) was first prepared by a simple one-step synthesis and used as an efficient immobilization matrix to fabricate an immunosensor. The GNP/IL-Ch film not only prevents the leakage of the IL units, but also produces a well-defined voltammetric signal due to the synergistic effects of the IL units and GNPs. By immobilizing an alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-labeled antibody in GNP/IL-Ch film, a sensitive amperometric immunosensor has been developed for prostate specific antigen (PSA). Under the optimized conditions, the immunosensor exhibits a linear range from 1.0 to 80 ng mL^?1 of PSA.     

Correlation between catalytic activity and surface ligands of monolayer protected gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are known to be a very good catalyst. Also, the anchoring of GNPs with stabilizing ligands is essential for surface modification, tuning of size and shapes, and to prevent from aggregation in suspension. But the effect of ligand on the catalytic property of ligand-capped GNP is yet to be explored in detail. In this paper, we perform an in-depth study of effect of ligands on the catalytic activity of monolayer protected GNPs. For this study, a series of different ligand functionalized GNPs in suspension as well as functionalized GNPs' thin film on glass substrate are prepared and used as catalysts in two model reactions, viz. borohydride reduction of 4-nitrophenol and redox reaction between potassium ferricyanide and sodium thiosulfate. The functionalization of GNPs with any ligand reduces its virgin catalytic activity, no matter whether the GNPs are suspended or supported as thin film. An increase in alkyl chain length of alkanethiols and alkylamines ligands and their graft density to the surface of GNP reduces its catalytic activity. Interestingly, the capping of GNPs with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and 11-mercaptoundecanol ligands completely destroys its catalytic activity. The effect of anchoring group of ligand molecules on the catalytic activity of ligand-protected GNPs is also discussed.     

Morphology of Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquids as Deposited by Vapor Deposition: Micro‐/Nanodroplets and Thin Films

The morphology of micro‐ and nanodroplets and thin films of ionic liquids (ILs) prepared through physical vapor deposition is presented. The morphology of droplets deposited on indium‐tin‐oxide‐coated glass is presented for the extended 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C_nC₁im][Ntf₂]; n=1–8) series, and the results show the nanostructuration of ILs. The use of in‐vacuum energetic particles enhances/increases the nanodroplets mobility/coalescence mechanisms and can be a pathway to the fabrication of thin IL films.     

Investigations on the Physicochemical and Radiolytic Degradation Properties of Tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butylphosphate–Ionic Liquid in the Presence of Nitric Acid

Tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) in an ionic liquid (IL) has been proposed as a suitable alternative for the solvent extraction of actinides from nitric acid solutions. This paper reports the detailed investigations on the physicochemical and hydrodynamic properties of the solvent system containing TBP in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C₄mim][NTf₂]) IL. The properties such as density, viscosity, phase separation time (PST), etc., were measured for irradiated and unirradiated solvent phases composed of TBP, [C₄mim][NTf₂] and 1.1 mol·L^–1 TBP in [C₄mim][NTf₂]. The results are compared with the values obtained in acid-equilibrated IL phases. ATR–FTIR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering measurement of the IL phase were employed to characterize the interactions among the IL, TBP and nitric acid medium, and the aggregate size of the adduct formed in the IL phase.     

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.     

Tribological properties of self-assembled monolayers of catecholic imidazolium and the spin-coated films of ionic liquids

A novel compound of an imidazolium type of ionic liquid (IL) containing a biomimetic catecholic functional group normally seen in mussel adhesive proteins was synthesized. The IL can be immobilized on a silicon surface and a variety of other engineering material surfaces via the catecholic anchor, allowing the tribological protection of these substrates for engineering applications. The surface wetting and adhesive properties and the tribological property of the synthesized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are successfully modulated by altering the counteranions. The chemical composition and wettability of the IL SAMs were characterized by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle (CA) measurements. The adhesive and friction forces were measured with an atomic force microscope (AFM) on the nanometer scale. IL composite films were prepared by spin coating thin IL films on top of the SAMs. The macrotribological properties of these IL composite films were investigated with a pin-on-disk tribometer. The results indicate that the presence of IL SAMs on a surface can improve the wettability of spin-coated ionic liquids and thus the film quality and the tribological properties. These films registered a reduced friction coefficient and a significantly enhanced durability and load-carrying capacity. The tribological properties of the composite films are better than those of pure IL films because the presence of the monolayers improves the adhesion and compatibility of spin-coated IL films with substrates.     

Physical Vapor Deposition of [EMIM][Tf2N]: A New Approach to the Modification of Surface Properties with Ultrathin Ionic Liquid Films

Ultrathin films of the ionic liquid (IL) 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [EMIM][Tf₂N], are prepared on a glass substrate by means of an in situ thermal‐evaporation/condensation process under ultrahigh‐vacuum conditions. By using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), it is demonstrated that the first layer of the IL film grows two dimensionally, followed by the three‐dimensional growth of successive layers. The first molecular layer consists of a bilayer, with the [EMIM]⁺ cations in contact to the surface and the [Tf₂N]^? anions at the vacuum side. The ultrathin IL films are found to be stable under ambient conditions.     

介孔SiO_2薄膜增敏SERS基底在消逝波激励下的特性表征

采用溶胶-凝胶分子模板法在50 nm厚金膜表面制备约40 nm厚介孔二氧化硅(MPS)薄膜,然后在MPS薄膜表面静电自组装金纳米粒子(GNP)单层膜,形成的多层膜结构用作表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底.利用扫描电镜观测到MPS薄膜具有表面开口多孔结构,有助于小分子向薄膜内快速扩散.基于时域有限差分(FDTD)方法对电场分布的仿真结果指出,在表面等离子体共振(SPR)条件下分布于金膜与GNP之间的消逝场显著增强.由于空间重叠,该增强场能够高效激发MPS内富集的小分子拉曼信号,产生的拉曼信号还可免受金属作用的干扰.利用Kretschmann结构和尼罗蓝(NB)拉曼活性分子测试了Au/MPS/GNP基底在785 nm激发波长下的SERS效果,并与Au/GNP基底进行了比较.结果表明,在SPR条件下,Au/MPS/GNP基底能够导致较强的定向和背向拉曼信号,而且在586 cm-1处的背向拉曼信号强度是Au/GNP基底的40倍,这归功于MPS薄膜.进一步测试表明背向拉曼信号强度与NB浓度成正相关.这意味着Au/MPS/GNP基底具有良好的半定量检测本领.     

介孔SiO2薄膜增敏SERS基底在消逝波激励下的特性表征

采用溶胶-凝胶分子模板法在50 nm 厚金膜表面制备约40 nm 厚介孔二氧化硅(MPS)薄膜, 然后在MPS薄膜表面静电自组装金纳米粒子(GNP)单层膜, 形成的多层膜结构用作表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底.利用扫描电镜观测到MPS薄膜具有表面开口多孔结构, 有助于小分子向薄膜内快速扩散. 基于时域有限差分(FDTD)方法对电场分布的仿真结果指出, 在表面等离子体共振(SPR)条件下分布于金膜与GNP之间的消逝场显著增强. 由于空间重叠, 该增强场能够高效激发MPS内富集的小分子拉曼信号, 产生的拉曼信号还可免受金属作用的干扰. 利用Kretschmann 结构和尼罗蓝(NB)拉曼活性分子测试了Au/MPS/GNP基底在785 nm激发波长下的SERS效果, 并与Au/GNP基底进行了比较. 结果表明, 在SPR条件下, Au/MPS/GNP基底能够导致较强的定向和背向拉曼信号, 而且在586 cm^-1处的背向拉曼信号强度是Au/GNP基底的40 倍, 这归功于MPS薄膜. 进一步测试表明背向拉曼信号强度与NB浓度成正相关. 这意味着Au/MPS/GNP基底具有良好的半定量检测本领.     

Organic vapor sensing properties and characterization of α-naphthylmethacrylate LB thin films

Determination of organic vapor sensing properties of α-Naphthylmethacrylate (α-NMA) monomer based Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) thin films was aimed in this study. LB thin film fabrication was performed on quartz glass and quartz crystal substrates in order to investigate the characterization and organic vapor properties of α-NMA materials by using UV-Visible, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) techniques. π-A isotherm graph was taken and a suitable surface pressure value were primarily determined as 13?mN m^?1 for successful α-NMA LB thin film fabrication. Transfer ratio value was found to be ≥ 0.93 for quartz glass and quartz crystal substrates. The typical frequency shift per layer was obtained as 16.93?Hz/layer and the deposited mass onto a quartz crystal was calculated as 271.30?ng/layer (1.02?ng mm^?2). The sensing responses of α-NMA LB films against dichloromethane, chloroform, toluene and m-xylene were measured by QCM system. Dichloromethane created the maximum shift in the resonance frequency than other organic vapors used in this study. Results exhibited that α-NMA LB thin films were potential candidates for organic vapor sensing applications, especially high sensitive detection of dichloromethane at room temperature.     

不同基底对TiO2和SiO2薄膜的光学性能的影响

采用溶胶-凝胶法分别在K9玻璃、单晶硅和石英玻璃基底上制备了纳米TiO₂和SiO₂薄膜。利用SEM、UV-Vis及反射式椭圆偏振光谱仪对薄膜的微观结构及光学特性进行了表征和分析。结果表明:3种基底中, 单晶硅基底上TiO₂和SiO₂薄膜折射率最大;在非晶态K9玻璃和石英玻璃基底上TiO₂薄膜折射率和透光率差异较大;SiO₂薄膜在非晶态基底上折射率、透光率相近;3种基底上薄膜的折射率和消光系数都有随波长增大而减小的趋势, 同时Cauchy模型能较好的描述单晶硅基底上两种薄膜在400~800 nm波段的光学性能。     

不同基底对TiO2和SiO2薄膜的光学性能的影响

采用溶胶-凝胶法分别在K9玻璃、单晶硅和石英玻璃基底上制备了纳米TiO₂和SiO₂薄膜。利用SEM、UV-Vis及反射式椭圆偏振光谱仪对薄膜的微观结构及光学特性进行了表征和分析。结果表明：3种基底中, 单晶硅基底上TiO₂和SiO₂薄膜折射率最大;在非晶态K9玻璃和石英玻璃基底上TiO₂薄膜折射率和透光率差异较大;SiO₂薄膜在非晶态基底上折射率、透光率相近;3种基底上薄膜的折射率和消光系数都有随波长增大而减小的趋势, 同时Cauchy模型能较好的描述单晶硅基底上两种薄膜在400~800 nm波段的光学性能。     

激光刻蚀模板中电沉积特殊结构CIGS薄膜

本文利用激光刻蚀模板,在水溶液中电沉积制备金属铜薄膜,讨论了温度、电流、硫酸铜浓度对薄膜形貌的影响. 采用SEM对制备的铜薄膜进行表征,结果表明在沉积温度为30 ℃,沉积电流为4 A·dm^-2(表观工作电流密度),硫酸铜浓度在20 ~ 50 g·L^-1的水溶液中电沉积可以得到中空馒头状和开口碗状结构的铜薄膜. 利用激光刻蚀模板,在离子液体1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑三氟甲磺酸盐([BMI][TfO]) - 30 Vol%丙醇混合电解质中电沉积CIGS薄膜,研究了沉积电势、沉积时间对薄膜形貌的影响. SEM观察发现,在沉积电势为-1.8 V,沉积时间为1.5 h条件下电沉积可以得到近似柱状的簇状花束样的CIGS薄膜, 电沉积铜后再进一步电沉积CIGS,得到了均匀有序的鼓包柱状结构的Cu/CIGS复合薄膜. 用恒电势方波法对制备的薄膜真实表面积进行测试,计算结果表明,与无模板电沉积制备的CIGS薄膜相比,激光刻蚀模板法制备的Cu/CIGS复合薄膜的表面积提高了约8倍.     

Effect of introduced charge in cellulose gels on surface interactions and the adsorption of highly charged cationic polyelectrolytes

The interaction between cellulose surfaces in aqueous solution has been measured using colloidal probe microscopy. Cellulose thin films with varying charge through carboxyl group substitution were used in this study with the surface forces fit to DLVO theory. It was found that the surface potential increased, as expected, with increasing carboxyl substitution. Furthermore, for a given degree of substitution, the surface potential increased as a function of increasing pH. At low pH, the surface forces interaction were attractive and could be fit to the non-retarded Hamaker equation using a constant of 3 x 10(-21) J. At pH greater than 5, the force interactions were monotonically repulsive, regardless of the ionic strength of the solution for all charge densities of the cellulose thin films. The adsorption of polyDADMAC to these charged cellulose films was also investigated using the quartz crystal microbalance. It was found that for the low charge film, a low surface excess of PDADMAC was sensed and that the adsorbed conformation was essentially flat. However for the higher charged cellulose film, a spontaneous de-swelling was observed resulting in no possibility of quantitatively determining the sensed mass using QCM.     

On-Surface Metathesis of an Ionic Liquid on Ag(111)

We investigated the adsorption, surface enrichment, ion exchange, and on-surface metathesis of ultrathin mixed IL films on Ag(111). We stepwise deposited 0.5 ML of the protic IL diethylmethylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([dema][TfO]) and 1.0 ML of the aprotic IL 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈C₁Im][PF₆]) at around 90 K. Thereafter, the resulting layered frozen film was heated to 550 K, and the thermally induced phenomena were monitored in situ by angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Between 135 and 200 K, [TfO]⁻ anions at the Ag(111) surface are exchanged by [PF₆]⁻ anions and enriched together with [C₈C₁Im]⁺ cations at the IL/vacuum interface. Upon further heating, [dema][PF₆] and [OMIm][PF₆] desorb selectively at ∼235 and ∼380 K, respectively. Hereby, a wetting layer of pure [C₈C₁Im][TfO] is formed by on-surface metathesis at the IL/metal interface, which completely desorbs at ∼480 K. For comparison, ion enrichment at the vacuum/IL interface was also studied in macroscopic IL mixtures, where no influence of the solid support is expected.     

Supported absorption of CO2 by tetrabutylphosphonium amino acid ionic liquids

A new type of "task specific ionic liquid", tetrabutylphosphonium amino acid [P(C4)4][AA], was synthesized by the reaction of tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide [P(C4)4][OH] with amino acids, including glycine, L-alanine, L-beta-alanine, L-serine, and L-lysine. The liquids produced were characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopies, and elemental analysis, and their thermal decomposition temperature, glass transition temperature, electrical conductivity, density, and viscosity were recorded in detail. The [P(C4)4][AA] supported on porous silica gel effected fast and reversible CO2 absorption when compared with bubbling CO2 into the bulk of the ionic liquid. No changes in absorption capacity and kinetics were found after four cycles of absorption/desorption. The CO2 absorption capacity at equilibrium was 50 mol % of the ionic liquids. In the presence of water (1 wt %), the ionic liquids could absorb equimolar amounts of CO2. The CO2 absorption mechanisms of the ionic liquids with and without water were different.     

Evidence of surface charge at the air/water interface from thin-film studies on polyelectrolyte-coated substrates

The stability of thin water films on silicon substrates coated with cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes was investigated by the thin film pressure balance technique. Depending on the surface charge of the substrate, the water films are either stable (on negatively charged wafers) or rupture rapidly (on positively charged wafers). It is supposed that this behavior is due to a negative surface charge of the free water surface. The underlying assumption that the films' stability is due to electrostatic interactions is supported by measurements of the disjoining pressure on silicon wafers with a native oxide layer, which indicates a decrease of the film thickness, and thus decreasing repulsive interaction between the two film interfaces, with increasing ionic strength.     

Selective deposition in multilayer assembly: SAMs as molecular templates

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on surfaces may be used as molecular templates for the selective deposition of polymer multilayer films. SAMs of ω-functionalized alkane thiolates are patterned onto gold surfaces with micron scale features using the microcontact printing method; glass substrates can also be patterned with trichloroalkylsilane SAMs. Patterned polymeric monolayer and multilayer films are adsorbed atop the SAM from dilute polymer solutions using ionic macromolecular self-assembly techniques which have been developed recently. The effects of polymer molecular weight and ionic content, as well as the use of a second SAM in the unpatterned regions to promote selectivity are discussed. Surface roughness, selectivity and other film properties are presented. It is demonstrated that this technique can be used successfully in the patterning of micron scale features with multilayers of low molecular weight upon adsorption from dilute solution.