Ultrathin Carbon Film Electrodes from Vacuum‐Carbonised Cellulose Nanofibril Composite

A novel way to produce ultrathin transparent carbon layers on tin‐doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates is developed. The ITO surface is coated with cellulose nanofibrils (from sisal) via layer‐by‐layer electrostatic binding with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) or PDDAC acting as the binder. The cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC composite film is then vacuum‐carbonised at 500 °C. The resulting carbon films are characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and Raman methods. Smooth carbon films with good adhesion to the ITO substrate are formed. The electrochemical characterisation of the carbon films is based on the oxidation of hydroquinone and the reduction of benzoquinone in aqueous phosphate buffer media. A modest effect of the cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC film on the rate of electron transfer is observed. The effect of the film on the rate of electron transfer after carbonisation is more dramatic. For a 40‐layer cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC film after carbonisation a two‐order of magnitude change in the rate of electron transfer occurs presumably due to a better interaction of the hydroquinone/benzoquinone system with the electrode surface.     

Influence of Ionic Strength on Electrochemical Responses of Myoglobin Loaded in Polysaccharide Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly Films

Two polysaccharides hydroxyethyl cellulose ethoxylate (HECE) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were assembled into {HECE/HA}_n layer‐by‐layer films on electrodes. The films were then immersed in myoglobin (Mb) solutions to load Mb into the films. The Mb‐loaded films showed a nearly reversible cyclic voltammetric (CV) peak pair at ?0.34 V vs. SCE in pH 7.0 buffers. The effect of ionic strength in Mb loading solutions and CV testing solutions on the CV response of the films was investigated. The direct electrochemistry of Mb loaded in the films could also be used to electrocatalyze the reduction of oxygen and H₂O₂ in solution.     

Sol Processing of Conjugated Carbon Nitride Powders for Thin‐Film Fabrication

The chemical protonation of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) solids with strong oxidizing acids, for example HNO₃, is demonstrated as an efficient pathway for the sol processing of a stable CN colloidal suspension, which can be translated into thin films by dip/disperse‐coating techniques. The unique features of CN colloids, such as the polymeric matrix and the reversible hydrogen bonding, result in the thin‐film electrodes derived from the sol solution exhibiting a high mechanical stability with improved conductivity for charge transport, and thus show a remarkably enhanced photo‐electrochemical performance. The polymer system can in principle be broadly tuned by hybridization with desired functionalities, thus paving the way for the application of CN for specific tasks, as exemplified here by coupling with carbon nanotubes.     

(110)‐Oriented ZIF‐8 Thin Films on ITO with Controllable Thickness

(110)‐oriented zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)‐8 thin films with controllable thickness are successfully deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes at room temperature. The method applied uses 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in the form of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs), followed by a subsequent adoption of the layer‐by‐layer (LBL) method. The crystallographic preferential orientation (CPO) index shows that the ZIF‐8 thin films are (110)‐oriented. A possible mechanism for the growth of the (110)‐oriented ZIF‐8 thin films on 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane modified ITO is proposed. The observed cross‐sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and photoluminescent (PL) spectra of the ZIF‐8 thin films indicate that the thickness of the ZIF‐8 layers is proportional to the number of growth cycles. The extension of such a SAM method for the fabrication of ZIF‐8 thin films as described herein should be applicable in other ZIF materials, and the as‐prepared ZIF‐8 thin films on ITO may be explored for photoelectrochemical applications.     

Manganese Detection Using Stencil‐printed Carbon Ink Electrodes on Transparency Film

Mn concentrations were determined using square‐wave cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) with inexpensive, stencil‐printed carbon ink electrodes generated on polypropylene transparency films. Using an optimized pH 5 ammonium acetate buffer and addition of 1,4‐benzoquinone, a detection limit as low as 500 nM (30 ppb) was achieved. Addition of 1,4‐benzoquinone improved peak potential reproducibility and height, while addition of 3.5 % w/w sodium chloride to the background solution approximately doubled the sensitivity (μA/ppm). Tolerance tests with interfering metals were conducted and the method was found to be resilient to chromium(VI), iron(III), magnesium(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II), but susceptible to aluminum(III), copper(II), iron(II), and lead(II) at concentration ratios at or below one. This technique was successfully used to measure Mn levels in yerba mate and green tea samples as an example application.     

Fabrication and Characterization of DNA/QPVP‐Os Redox‐Active Multilayer Film

Calf thymus DNA was immobilized on functionalized glassy carbon, gold and quartz substrates, respectively, by the layer‐by‐layer (LBL) assembly method with a polycation QPVP‐Os, a quaternized poly(4‐vinylpyridine) partially complexed with osmium bis(2,2′‐bipyridine) as counterions. UV‐visible absorption and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) showed that the resulting film was uniform with the average thickness 3.4 nm for one bilayer. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that the total surface coverage of the polycations increases as each QPVP‐Os/DNA bilayer added to the electrode surface, but the surface formal potential of Os‐centered redox reaction shifts negatively, which is mainly attributed to the intercalation of redox‐active complex to DNA chain. The electron transfer kinetics of electroactive QPVP‐Os in the multilayer film was investigated by electrochemical impedance experiment for the first time. The permeability of Fe(CN) in the solution into the multilayer film depends on the number of bilayers in the film. It is worth noting that when the multilayer film is up to 4 bilayers, the CV curves of the multilayer films display the typical characteristic of a microelectrode array. The nanoporous structure of the multilayer film was further confirmed by the surface morphology analysis using atomic force microscopy (AFM).     

Electrochemical Investigation of Myoglobin in Layer‐by‐Layer Films Assembled with Sulfonated‐β‐Cyclodextrin

In this work, myoglobin (Mb) and sulfonated‐β‐cyclodextrin (S‐CD) were assembled into {S‐CD/Mb}_n layer‐by‐layer films on solid substrates. In pH 7.0 buffers, the {S‐CD/Mb}_n films assembled on electrodes showed a pair of well‐defined and nearly reversible CV peaks at about ?0.35 V vs. SCE. The stable CV response of {S‐CD/Mb}_n films could be used to electrocatalyze reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide in solution. For comparison, another modified β‐cyclodextrin, carboxyethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (C‐CD), was also assembled with Mb into {C‐CD/Mb}_n multilayer films. The driving forces of the assembly were explored and discussed.     

Long Distance Electron Transfer Across >100 nm Thick Au Nanoparticle/Polyion Films to a Surface Redox Protein

Glutathione‐decorated 5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and oppositely charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) were assembled into {PAH/AuNP}_n films fabricated layer‐by‐layer (LbL) on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes. These AuNP/polyion films utilized the AuNPs as electron hopping relays to achieve direct electron transfer between underlying electrodes and redox proteins on the outer film surface across unprecedented distances >100 nm for the first time. As film thickness increased, voltammetric peak currents for surface myoglobin (Mb) on these films decreased but the electron transfer rate was relatively constant, consistent with a AuNP‐mediated electron hopping mechanism.     

Redox Properties of Ferricyanide Ion on Layer‐by‐Layer Thin Film‐Coated Gold Electrodes; Effects of Type of Polycationic Components in the Film

The surface of a gold (Au) electrode was coated with layer‐by‐layer (LbL) thin films composed of poly(vinyl sulfate) (PVS) and different type of poly(amine)s including poly(allylamine) (PAH), poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and redox properties of ferricyanide ion ([Fe(CN)₆]^3?) on the LbL film‐coated Au electrodes were studied. The LbL film‐coated electrodes exhibited redox response to [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion when the outermost surface of the LbL film was covered with the cationic poly(amine)s while virtually no response was observed on the LbL film‐coated electrodes whose outermost surface was covered with PVS due to an electrostatic repulsion between [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion and the negatively‐charged PVS layer. The redox properties of [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion on the LbL film‐coated electrodes significantly depended on the type of polycationic materials in the LbL film. The LbL film‐coated electrodes which had been immersed in the [Fe(CN)₆]^3? solution for 15 min exhibited redox response even in a [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion‐free buffer solution, suggesting that [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion is confined in the films. In the buffer solution, redox peaks were observed between +0.1 and 0.4 V depending on the type of polycations in the film. Thus, [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ion can be confined in the film and the redox potential is polycation‐dependent.     

Impact of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on the Electrochemical Responses of a Ferricyanide Probe at Template‐Modified Self‐Assembled Monolayers on Gold Electrodes

The impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the electrochemical responses of a ferricyanide probe using gold electrodes coated with template‐containing self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and square‐wave voltammetry. The thiolated compounds that were used to form SAMs included 1‐hexadecanethiol, 11‐mercapto‐undecanoic acid, 11‐mercaptoundecanol, and (3‐mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MPTS). When the SAMs were formed from 1‐hexadecanethiol or 11‐mercapto‐undecanoic acid in the absence of pyrene, the SAM‐modified electrodes prohibited access of the ferricyanide probe and no impact of pyrene was observed. SAM‐modified electrodes (all except for MPTS) that were formed in the presence of pyrene then washed free of pyrene showed an increase in accessibility of the probe ferricyanide upon the addition of pyrene to the electrolyte solution. When electrodes were modified with MPTS to form stabilized SAMs in the presence of pyrene, however, a reduced redox current for the ferricyanide probe was observed with increased pyrene or naphthalene in the electrolyte solution. A degree of selectivity was noted in that this current response was not observed for addition of benzo[a]pyrene.     

Stimuli‐responsive micelles of amphiphilic AMPS‐b‐AAL copolymers in layer‐by‐layer films

Aqueous reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization was used to synthesize poly(N‐[3‐(dimethylamino)propyl]acrylamide) (PDMAPA) cationic homopolymers and micelle‐forming, pH‐responsive, amphiphilic diblock copolymers of poly(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonate‐block‐N‐acryloyl‐L ‐alanine) (P(AMPS‐b‐AAL)). At low pH, the AAL blocks are protonated rendering them hydrophobic, whereas the AMPS blocks remain anionically charged because of the pendant sulfonate groups. Self‐assembly results in core–shell micelles consisting of hydrophobic cores of AAL and negatively charged shells of AMPS. Using solutions of these micelles with anionic coronas and of the cationic homopolymer PDMAPA, layer‐by‐layer (LbL) films were assembled at low pH, maintaining the micelle structures. Several block copolymers with varying AMPS and AAL block lengths were synthesized and used in the formation of LbL films. The thickness and morphology of the films were examined using ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. The stimuli‐responsive behavior can be triggered by submersion of the film in water at neutral pH to disrupt the micelles. This behavior was monitored by observing the decrease in film thickness and alteration of the film morphology. The micelles were also loaded with a model hydrophobic compound, pyrene, and incorporated into LbL films. The release of pyrene from the films was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy at varying pH values (1, 3, 5, and 7). As the pH of the solution increases, the rate of release increases. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

An optimized microfluidic paper‐based NiOOH/Zn alkaline battery

In this paper, an alkaline nickel oxide hydroxide/zinc (NiOOH/Zn) battery featuring a cellulose matrix separator between electrodes is presented. The metallic electrodes and the paper separator are inserted in a layer‐by‐layer assembly that provides mechanical stability to the system resulting in a lightweight and easy‐to‐use device. The battery was optimized for the amount of NiOOH‐ink used at the cathode (11.1 mg/cm²) and thickness of the paper membrane separating the electrodes (360 μm). The battery was able to function using a small volume (75 μL) of 1.5 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) producing a maximum voltage, current density, and power density of 1.35 ± 0.05 V, 10.62 ± 0.57 mA/cm², and 0.56 ± 0.01 mW/cm², respectively. The system displayed a maximum current of 23.9 mA and a maximum power of 1.26 mW. Moreover, four batteries connected in series were able to power a small flameless candle for approximately 22 min. This work has potential in fulfilling the demands for short‐term and lightweight power supplies.     

Novel electroluminescent cationic polyelectrolyte based on poly[(fluorene‐2,7‐diylvinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] and its precursor

A novel conjugated poly[(fluorene‐2,7‐vinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] derivative 2 with quaternizable tertiary amino groups was synthesized by Heck coupling of a substituted 2,7‐dibromofluorene and 1,4‐dialkoxy‐2,5‐divinylbenzene. The corresponding quaternary ammonium cationic polyelectrolyte 3 was obtained by the treatment of 2 with bromoethane. Both polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, like tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and dichloromethane. Polymer 3 showed a limited solubility in alcohols and was insoluble in water. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of the resulting polymers were fully investigated. An intensive green photoluminescence (PL) with maxima at 550 and 545 nm was observed from thin films of 2 and 3 polymers, respectively, red‐shifted compared with the PL emission spectra measured in the solution. The electrochemical band gaps were 2.38–2.45 eV. Single‐layer and double‐layer (with poly[3,4‐(ethylenedioxy)thiophene]/poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)) light‐emitting devices (LEDs) with ITO and Al electrodes were prepared and studied. They emitted a green light and their electroluminescence (EL) spectra were similar to those of PL thin films. The external EL efficiency was determined to be 0.43 and 0.32% for ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ 2 /Al and ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ 3 /Al LEDs, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1016–1027, 2007     

pH‐Switchable Bioelectrocatalysis Based on Weak Polyelectrolyte Multilayers

Weak polyelectrolytes poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were assembled into {PAH/PAA}_n layer‐by‐layer films on electrodes. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) response of ferrocenecarboxylic acid (Fc(COOH)) at {PAH/PAA}₅ film electrodes assembled under the specific condition showed pH‐sensitive “on‐off” switching property. This property was further used to control the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose by glucose oxidase (GOD) with Fc(COOH) as the electron transfer mediator, so that the pH‐switchable bioelectrocatalysis could be realized. The mechanism of pH‐sensitive behavior of the system was explored and believed to originate from the pH‐dependent structure change of the films.     

Spin Self‐Assembled Clay Nanocomposite Passivation Layers Made from a Photocrosslinkable Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Na+‐Montmorillonite Enhance the Environmental Stability of Organic Thin‐Film Transistors

We investigated the effects of the multilayer polymer‐clay nanohybrid passivation films on the stability of pentacene organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) exposed to air and UV irradiation. Well‐ordered multilayer films were deposited by the spin‐assisted layer‐by‐layer assembly method using photocrosslinkable poly(vinyl alcohol) with the N‐methyl‐4(4′‐formylstyryl)pyridinium methosulfate acetal group (SbQ‐PVA) and Na⁺‐montmorillonite in a water‐based solution process. When photocrosslinked, these SbQ‐PVA/clay multilayers were found to serve as excellent barriers to O₂ and UV‐light. Moreover, when used as passivation layers, they enhanced the stability of pentacene OTFT devices exposed to air and UV radiation.     

Mixed Aza‐Thioether Crowns Containing a 1,10‐Phenanthroline Sub‐Unit as Neutral Ionophores for Silver Ion

Three different recently synthesized aza‐thioether crowns containing a 1,10‐phenanthroline sub‐unit (L1–L3) and a corresponding acyclic ligand (L4) were studied to characterize their abilities as silver ion ionophores in PVC‐membrane electrodes. Novel conventional silver‐selective electrodes with internal reference solution (CONISE) and coated graphite‐solid contact electrodes (SCISE) were prepared based on one of the 15‐membered crowns containing two donating S atoms and two phenanthroline‐N atoms (L1). The electrodes reveal a Nernstian behavior over wide Ag⁺ ion concentration ranges (1.0×10^?5?1.0×10^?1 M for CONISE and 5.0×10^?8?4.0×10^?2 M for SCISE) and very low limits of detection (8.0×10^?6 M for CONISE and 3.0×10^?8 M for SCISE). The potentiometric response is independent from pH of the solution in the pH range 3.0–8.0. The electrodes manifest advantages of low resistance, very fast response and, most importantly, good selectivities relative to a wide variety of other cations. The electrodes can be used for at least 2 months (for CONISE) and 4 months for (SCISE) without any appreciable divergence in potentials. The electrodes were used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Ag⁺ ion and in the determination of silver in photographic emulsions and in radiographic and photographic films.     

Influence of graphene oxide incorporation and chemical cross‐linking on structure and mechanical properties of layer‐by‐layer assembled poly(Vinyl alcohol)‐Laponite free‐standing films

Functional fillers in multilayered films provide opportunity in tailoring the mechanical properties through chemical cross‐linking. In this study, Laponite‐graphene oxide co‐dispersion was used to incorporate graphene oxide (GO) easily into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Laponite layer‐by‐layer (LBL) films. The LBL films were found to be uniform and the layer thickness increased linearly with number of depositions. The process was extended to a large number of depositions to investigate the macroscopic mechanical properties of the free‐standing films. The LBL films showed remarkable improvements in mechanical properties as compared to neat PVA film. The GO‐incorporated LBL films displayed higher enhancements in the tensile strength, ductility, and toughness as compared to that of PVA/Laponite LBL films, upon chemical cross‐linking. This suggests the advantageous effects of GO incorporation. Interestingly, cross‐linking of LBL films for longer time period (>1 h) and higher temperature (～80 °C) was not found to be much beneficial. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2377–2387     

Electropolymerization of layer‐by‐layer precursor polymer films

The layer‐by‐layer (LbL) self‐assembly has been used to fabricate polymer thin films on any solid substrates. The multilayer polymer thin films are constructed by alternating adsorption of anionic and cationic polymers. Polyelectrolyte multilayer ultrathin films containing anionic poly[2‐(thiophen‐3‐yl)ethyl methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid]; P(TEM‐co‐MA) and cationic poly[4‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)‐N‐butyl‐4‐vinyl pyridium bromide]; P4VPCBZ, were fabricated. The growth of multilayer ultrathin films was followed by UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometer and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR). The deposition of P(TEM‐co‐MA)/P4VPCBZ as multilayer self‐assembled ultrathin films regularly grow which showed linear growth of absorbance and thickness with increasing the number of layer pair. Cross‐linking of the layers was verified by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV–Vis spectrophotometry and electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (EC‐SPR) spectroscopy with good electro‐copolymerizability. This was verified by spectroelectrochemistry. The SPR angular‐reflectivity measurement resulted in shifts to a higher reflectivity according to the change in the dielectric constant of the electropolymerized film. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Layer—by—layer Multilaryer Films Self—assembled from a Rare—earth—containing Poly—oxometalate,Na9[Eu（W5O18）2] and Poly （allylamine hydrochloride） and Their Photoluminescent Properties

Ultrathin multilayer films of a rare-earth-containing polyoxometalate Na9[Eu(W5O18)2](EW) and poly (allymamine hydrochloride)(PAH) have been prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly from dilute aqueous solution.The fabrication process of the EW/PAH multilaryer films was followed by UV-vis spectroscopy and ellipsometry,which show that the deposition process is linear and highly reproducible from layer to layer.An average EW/PAH bilayer thickness of ca.2.1nm was determined by ellipsometry.In addition,the scanning electron microscopy(SEM) image of the EW/PAH film indicates that the film surface is relatively uniform and smooth.The photoluminescent properties of these films were also investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Harnessing the Liquid‐Phase Exfoliation of Graphene Using Aliphatic Compounds: A Supramolecular Approach

The technological exploitation of the extraordinary properties of graphene relies on the ability to achieve full control over the production of a high‐quality material and its processing by up‐scalable approaches in order to fabricate large‐area films with single‐layer or a few atomic‐layer thickness, which might be integrated in working devices. A simple method is reported for producing homogenous dispersions of unfunctionalized and non‐oxidized graphene nanosheets in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) by using simple molecular modules, which act as dispersion‐stabilizing compounds during the liquid‐phase exfoliation (LPE) process, leading to an increase in the concentration of graphene in dispersions. The LPE‐processed graphene dispersion was shown to be a conductive ink. This approach opens up new avenues for the technological applications of this graphene ink as low‐cost electrodes and conducting nanocomposite for electronics.