Patterning of conducting polymers using charged self-assembled monolayers

We introduce a new approach to pattern conducting polymers by combining oppositely charged conducting polymers on charged self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The polymer resist pattern behaves as a physical barrier, preventing the formation of SAMs. The patterning processes were carried out using commercially available conducting polymers: a negatively charged PEDOT/PSS (poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene)/poly(4-stylenesulphonic acid)) and a positively charged polypyrrole (PPy). A bifunctional NH 2 (positively charged) or COOH (negatively charged) terminated alkane thiol or silane was directly self-assembled on a substrate (Au or SiO 2). A suspension of the conducting polymers (PEDOT/PSS and PPy) was then spin-coated on the top surface of the SAMs and allowed to adsorb on the oppositely charged SAMs via an electrostatic driving force. After lift-off of the polymer resist, i.e., poly(methyl methacrylate, PMMA), using acetone, the conducting polymers remained on the charged SAMs surface. Optical microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy reveal that the prepared nanolines have low line edge roughness and high line width resolution. Thus, conducting polymer patterns with high resolution could be produced by simply employing charged bifunctional SAMs. It is anticipated that this versatile new method can be applied to device fabrication processes of various nano- and microelectronics.     

Versatile organic (fullerene)-inorganic (CdTe nanoparticle) nanoensembles

Novel organic (positively charged fullerene)-inorganic (negatively charged CdTe nanoparticle) nanoensembles were devised through electrostatic interactions and probed as versatile donor-acceptor hybrids. Photoirradiation of their homogeneous solutions, containing the electrostatically packed components, let to very long-lived (1.3 ms) charge separated states.     

Methyl methacrylate polymerization in the presence of C60 (C70) and molecular characteristics of fullerene-containing poly(methyl methacrylate)

Kinetics was studied of bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by dicyclohexyl peroxydicarbonate in the presence of tri-n-butylborane and fullerene C₆₀ (or C₇₀) at variable ratio initiator: fullerene. The deceleration of the polymerization in the first stage of the reaction (below 10% conversion) was established by dilatometric method that depended on the fullerene concentration and the mode of its addition to the monomer. It was shown that at similar ratios initiator: fullerene the C₆₀ inhibited the polymerization process considerably stronger than C₇₀. The gel-permeation chromatography revealed the widening of the molecular weight distribution of the poly(methyl methacrylates) containing C₆₀ or C₇₀ compared to its analog synthesized under the same conditions without fullerene. It was established that in the fullerene-containing poly(methyl methacrylates) all the framework nanospecies are linked by covalent bonds and are mostly accumulated in the low-molecular fractions. The effect of the covalently bound fullerene on the molecular characteristics of polymers were investigated by translational isothermal diffusion, high-speed sedimentation, and viscometry     

Self-assembled photoresponsive amphiphilic diphenylaminofluorene-C60 conjugate vesicles in aqueous solution

Water-soluble oligo(ethylene glycolated) derivatives of two-photon absorptive diphenylaminofluorenocarbonyl-methano[60]fullerene, denoted as C60(>DPAF-EG6), were synthesized with their molecular self-assembly characteristics in H2O studied. The formation of nano- to submicron-sized spherical hollow vesicles with a shell width of 15-20 nm was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. This shell width fits approximately with the length of a disordered bilayer-like molecular packing of C60(>DPAF-EG6), arising from strong intermolecular hydrophobic interactions of fullerene cages. Photoinduced intramolecular charge separation followed by charge recombination on the nanosecond time scale, from the DPAF moiety to the C60 cage in the vesicle structure, was detected via transient spectroscopic measurements.     

Supramolecular complex of [60]fullerene-grafted polyelectrolyte and surfactant: mechanism and nanostructures

Water-soluble, pH-responsive mono- and di-[60]fullerene end-capped poly(acrylic acid)s (PAA-C60 and C60-PAA-C60) were synthesized using the atom transfer radical polymerization technique. Isothermal titration calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, UV-vis spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to study the supramolecular complexation between fullerene end-capped PAAs and nonionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol (9-10) tert-octylphenyl ether, also known as Triton X100 (TX100) at different pH values. At pH < 4, TX100 bound specifically to C60 domains driven by hydrophobic and pi-pi interactions between TX100 and fullerene molecules. The binding was exothermic, and the magnitude of the interaction decreased gradually with increasing pH. The amount of polymer-bound TX100 was proportional to the fullerene content, which was approximately 1.3 and approximately 2.5 mM for 5 mM (concentration of carboxylic groups) PAA-C60 and C60-PAA-C60, respectively. Morphological transformations resulting in the formation of polymer/surfactant complex (PSC) precipitates in the course of binding were observed for both polymers. The PSC of PAA-C60 possessed a dense spherical structure, whereas the PSC of C60-PAA-C60 possessed a lamellar stacking structure. The PSC precipitates resolubilized in excess amounts of TX100 to form stable aggregates.     

Gas permeation of fullerene‐dispersed poly(1‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propyne) membranes

Homogeneously fullerene‐dispersed membranes were prepared under the conditions in which a 10 wt % poly(1‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propyne) solution containing 0.5 wt % fullerene was dried under a reduced pressure of 50 cmHg at 100 °C. UV‐vis spectra and microscopic observations of the fullerene membranes indicated that the fullerene was homogeneously dispersed in the membranes. The permeability coefficients of 1‐butene were found to be higher than those of n‐butane in the fullerene membranes, although the permeability coefficients of olefin gases were nearly equal to those of paraffin gases having the same number of carbon in poly(1‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propyne) membranes containing no fullerene. Pressure dependence of permeability coefficients was clearly observed for the permeation of carbon dioxide, ethylene, ethane, 1‐butene, and n‐butane through the fullerene membranes, while no significant dependence was found for poly(1‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propyne) membranes except for the permeation of 1‐butene and n‐butane. The pressure dependence of the permeability was explained by the dual‐mode sorption model. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1749–1755, 2000     

Simulation of Potentially Possible Reactions at the Initial Stages of Free-Radical Polymerization of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate in the Presence of Fullerene C<Superscript>60</Superscript>

The quantum-chemical simulation of possible reactions occurring at the initial stage of the free-radical polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate in the presence of fullerene C⁶⁰ is performed. The reactions of interaction between initiating and model short-chain growing radicals containing from one to three monomer units with fullerene are considered. It is shown that, at the initial stage of styrene polymerization, the addition of short-chain growing radicals to fullerene predominates (with respect to the reaction of chain propagation). In the case of methyl methacrylate polymerization in the presence of fullerene C⁶⁰, the induction period is absent because of a higher probability of the initiation and chain propagation reactions (compared with the chain-termination reaction of short growing poly(methyl methacrylate) chains on fullerene C⁶⁰). The formation of bis- and trisadducts of fullerene C⁶⁰ with short-chain styrene and methyl methacrylate growing radicals is analyzed. The quantum-chemical simulation results are confirmed by electron spectroscopy and ESR studies.     

Facile deposition of [60]fullerene and carbon nanotubes on ITO electrode by electrochemical oxidative polymerization of ethylenedioxythiophene

It was found that [60]fullerene encapsulated in p-sulfonatocalix[8]arene and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) solubilized by sodium dodecylsulfate can be readily deposited on the ITO electrode by electrochemical oxidative polymerization of ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) without chemical modification of these carbon clusters. The driving force for the deposition is an electrostatic interaction between the anionic complexes and the cationic charges of poly(EDOT) formed in the oxidative polymerization process. The surface morphology was thoroughly characterized by scanning electron micrograph: the [60]fullerene/poly(EDOT) film is covered by nano-particles with 20-100 nm diameters whereas the SWNTs/poly(EDOT) film is covered by nanorods with several microm length and ca. 100 nm diameter. The results indicate that the anionic complexes act as nuclei for the polymer growth in the oxidation polymerization. Interestingly, when these modified ITO electrodes were photoirradiated, the appearance of a photocurrent wave was observed. The action spectra showed that the photoexcited energy of [60]fullerene or SWNTs is efficiently collected by the electroconductive poly(EDOT) film and transferred to the ITO electrode.     

Fullerene-containing branched polymethacrylates and polymer networks: Synthesis,structure, and properties

Branched poly(methyl methacrylates) containing covalently and noncovalently attached fullerene C₆₀ are synthesized and characterized by IR and UV spectroscopy. The basic physicochemical characteristics of the branched poly(methyl methacrylate) comprising covalently attached fullerene and the non-functionalized branched polymer of the same composition are compared. The effect of fullerene-containing branched poly(methyl methacrylates) on the kinetics of the crosslinking radical polymerization of 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate and on the structural-physical (mechanical, thermomechanical, and diffusion-sorption) properties of the resulting polymers is examined. The role of fullerene attached to the branched poly(methyl methacrylate) as an inhibitor of the crosslinking radical polymerization of dimethacrylate and as a modifier of the structure and properties of the polymers is ascertained.     

Electrokinetic molecular separation in nanoscale fluidic channels

This report presents a study of electrokinetic transport in a series of integrated macro- to nano-fluidic chips that allow for controlled injection of molecular mixtures into high-density arrays of nanochannels. The high-aspect-ratio nanochannels were fabricated on a Si wafer using interferometric lithography and standard semiconductor industry processes, and are capped with a transparent Pyrex cover slip to allow for experimental observations. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to examine the electrokinetic transport of a negatively charged dye (Alexa 488) and a neutral dye (rhodamine B) within nanochannels that varied in width from 35 to 200 nm with electric field strengths equal to or below 2000 V m-1. In the negatively charged channels, nanoconfinement and interactions between the respective solutes and channel walls give rise to higher electroosmotic velocities for the negatively charged dye than for the neutral dye, towards the negative electrode, resulting in an anomalous separation that occurs over a relatively short distance (<1 mm). Increasing the channel widths leads to a switch in the electroosmotic transport behavior observed in microscale channels, where neutral molecules move faster because the negatively charged molecules are slowed by the electrophoretic drag. Thus a clear distinction between "nano-" and "microfluidic" regimes is established. We present an analytical model that accounts for the electrokinetic transport and adsorption (of the neutral dye) at the channel walls, and is in good agreement with the experimental data. The observed effects have potential for use in new nano-separation technologies.     

Novel zwitterionic polyphosphorylcholine monolithic column for hydrophilic interaction chromatography

A novel porous zwitterionic monolith was prepared by thermal co-polymerisation of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) within 100 μm I.D. capillaries. Mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-HPLC (μ-HPLC), elemental analysis and ζ-potential analysis were used to evaluate the monolithic structure. No evidence of swelling or shrinking of the monolith in different polarity solvents was observed. A typical hydrophilic liquid chromatography (HILIC) mechanism was observed at high organic solvent content (acetonitrile >60%). The phosphorylcholine (PC) functionality has both a positively charged quaternary ammonium and a negatively charged phosphate group. For charged analytes, a weak electrostatic interaction was also observed by studying the influence of mobile phase pH and salt concentration on their retentions on the poly(MPC-co-EDMA) monolithic column. The optimised poly(MPC-co-EDMA) monolith showed very good selectivities for a range of polar test analytes, especially small peptides. This might be ascribed to the good biocompatibility of PC functionality. At low organic solvent content, baseline separation was also observed for a test mixture of seven alkylphenones by a reversed-phase separation mechanism.     

Complex formation between water-soluble sulfonated calixarenes and C60 fullerene

The inclusion complexes of sulfonated thiacalix[4]arene 1 and calix[6]arene 2 sodium salts with C₆₀ fullerene were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and quantum-chemical methods. The stoichiometries of calixarene/C₆₀ complexes were found to be 2:1 for 1 and 1:1 for 2. Related quantum-chemical investigations show that C₆₀ fullerene is included in a cavity composed of two half-bowl molecules of 1. The C₆₀ fullerene ball is located deep within the cavity of 2 and the negatively charged sulfonate arms probably inhibit the formation of the bowl-shaped capsule that was observed in the case of 1.     

Charged states of Sc3N@C68: an in situ spectroelectrochemical study of the radical cation and radical anion of a non-IPR fullerene

The redox behavior of Sc 3N@C 68 is studied systematically by means of electrochemistry, in situ ESR/Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry, and detailed theoretical treatment. Formation of the negatively and positively charged paramagnetic species for the same trimetallic nitride endohedral fullerene is demonstrated for the first time. The electrochemical study of Sc 3N@C 68 exhibits two electrochemically irreversible but chemically reversible reduction steps and two reversible oxidation steps. A double-square reaction scheme is proposed to explain the observed redox reaction at cathodic potentials involving the reversible dimerisation of the Sc 3N@C 68 monoanion. The spin state of the radical cation and the radical anion is probed by ESR spectroscopy, indicating that in both states, the large part of the unpaired spin is delocalized on the fullerene cage. The charged states of the non-isolated pentagon rule fullerene are characterized furthermore by in situ absorption spectroscopy. The interpretation of experimental data is supported by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the spin distribution in the anion and cation radicals of Sc 3N@C 68 and time-dependent DFT calculations of the absorption spectra of the charged species.     

具可调光学性质的富勒烯聚合物

聚（Ｃ６０ 甲基丙烯酸甲酯）与聚（Ｃ６０ 苯乙烯）的ＴＨＦ溶液的透射光谱随浓度的增大而不断红移．这种异常的光谱位移可能与富勒烯的纳级（１０－９）簇的形成有关．用简单的办法来“调改”一物质的性质是科学家们长期梦寐以求的，而含Ｃ６０的聚合物正代表了这一群新奇的物质，它们的光学性质可以预期地和可逆地调变，只要简单改变一下浓度．     

Design,Synthesis, and Self‐Assembly Behavior of Liquid‐Crystalline Bis‐[60]Fullerodendrimers

Bis‐[60]fullerodendrimers were synthesized by assembling [60]fullerene‐containing type I (terminal olefin) and type II (α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl olefin) olefins through the olefin cross‐metathesis reaction. The synthetic modular approach developed in this study allowed the preparation of mono‐[60]fullerodendrimers and their [60]fullerene‐free analogues. First‐ and second‐generation poly(aryl ester) dendrons carrying cyanobiphenyl mesogens were used as liquid‐crystalline promoters. The liquid‐crystalline properties were studied by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. In agreement with the nature and structure of the dendrimers, nematic, smectic, and multisegregated lamellar phases were observed. Owing to its versatility and tolerance towards many functional groups, olefin cross‐metathesis proved to be a reaction of choice for the elaboration of molecular materials with complex architectures.     

Adsorption of amyloid beta-peptide at polymer surfaces: a neutron reflectivity study.

The adsorption of amyloid beta-peptide at hydrophilic and hydrophobic modified silicon-liquid interfaces was characterized by neutron reflectometry. Distinct polymeric films were used to obtain noncharged (Formvar), negatively (sodium poly(styrene sulfonate)) and positively charged (poly(allylamine hydrochloride)) hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic surfaces (polystyrene and a polysiloxane-dodecanoic acid complex). Amyloid beta-peptide was found to adsorb at positively charged hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, whereas no adsorbed layer was detected on hydrophilic noncharged and negatively charged films. The peptide adsorbed at the positively charged film as patches, which were dispersed on the surface, whereas a uniform layer was observed at hydrophobic surfaces. The thickness of the adsorbed peptide layer was estimated to be approximately 20 A. The peptide formed a tightly packed layer, which did not contain water. These studies provide information about the affinity of the amyloid beta-peptide to different substrates in aqueous solution and suggest that the amyloid fibril formation may be driven by interactions with surfaces.     

EPR study of photoinduced charge transfer in a poly(3-hexylthiophene)-fullerene composite

Magnetic, relaxation, and dynamic parameters of radical pairs of positively charged polarons and negatively charged anion radicals of fullerene that are induced by photons with an energy of 1.7–3.4 eV are studied by the methods of photoinduced electron paramagnetic resonance for the poly(3-hexylthiophene)fullerene composite. The above charge carriers show mutual independence, which is provided by a different interaction with their microenvironment. The paramagnetic susceptibility of spin pairs reflects the dipoledipole interaction and activation dynamics of paramagnetic sites in the polymer-fullerene system. The rate of recombination of radical pairs is controlled by the mutual space distribution of carriers of various charges and by the energy of excitation photons. Quasi-one-dimensional diffusion of polarons along polymer chains and rotational diffusion of fullerene molecules about the selected molecular axis are likewise controlled by the energy of photons and can be described in terms of the activation Elliott hopping model. The dependence of the main values of magnetic, relaxation, and dynamic parameters of charge carriers on the energy of photons is explained by the inhomogeneous distribution of molecular clusters in the polymer-fullerene composite. The annealing of this composite leads to an enhanced formation of polymer crystallites and fullerene clusters. Hence, the effective dimension of the system increases and its electron characteristics are improved.     

Branched poly(methyl methacrylates) modified by C60 fullerenes

The poly(methyl methacrylates) of branched structure with a covalently bonded fullerene were synthesized by three-dimensional radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate or allyl methacrylate in toluene containing C₆₀. The kinetics of copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with multifunctional co-monomers in the absence of fullerene is compared with that in its presence. The physicochemical characteristics and thermal stability of the obtained copolymers are also compared. The electron spin resonance (ESR) method was applied to study the kinetics of accumulation of the fullerene radicals in the course of the (co)polymerization of methyl methacrylate.     

Transition Metal Complexes of a Salen–Fullerene Diad: Redox and Catalytically Active Nanostructures for Delivery of Metals in Nanotubes

A covalently‐linked salen–C₆₀ (H₂L) assembly binds a range of transition metal cations in close proximity to the fullerene cage to give complexes [M(L)] (M=Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd), [MCl(L)] (M=Cr, Fe) and [V(O)L]. Attaching salen covalently to the C₆₀ cage only marginally slows down metal binding at the salen functionality compared to metal binding to free salen. Coordination of metal cations to salen–C₆₀ introduces to these fullerene derivatives strong absorption bands across the visible spectrum from 400 to 630 nm, the optical features of which are controlled by the nature of the transition metal. The redox properties of the metal–salen–C₆₀ complexes are determined both by the fullerene and by the nature of the transition metal, enabling the generation of a wide range of fullerene‐containing charged species, some of which possess two or more unpaired electrons. The presence of the fullerene cage enhances the affinity of these complexes for carbon nanostructures, such as single‐, double‐ and multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphitised carbon nanofibres, without detrimental effects on the catalytic activity of the metal centre, as demonstrated in styrene oxidation catalysed by [Cu(L)]. This approach shows promise for applications of salen–C₆₀ complexes in heterogeneous catalysis.     

Poly(acrylic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) layers on positively charged surface coatings: molecular structure, protein resistance, and application to single protein deposition

A new copolymer (PAA-PEG2000) has been designed, consisting of a negatively charged poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) backbone to which poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains with a molecular weight of about 2 kDa were grafted in a molecular ratio of 3:10. It readily adsorbs to positively charged surfaces and may be considered to be the anionic counterpart of PEG-grafted poly(l-lysine) (PLL-PEG), which was first described by Kenausis et al. and is widely used to render negatively charged surfaces protein-resistant. The synthesis of PAA-PEG2000 can be carried out in aqueous solution at room temperature and does not require any sophisticated techniques such as handling in an inert gas atmosphere. Using ellipsometry and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), the film structure has been carefully analyzed for copolymer adsorption onto three different positively charged surfaces, namely, thin layers of poly(allylamine) (PAH), poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). Besides the film thickness, the conformation of the PEG chains and their orientation with respect to the surface normal appear to be important parameters for the protein resistance of the films. Although PAA-PEG2000 adsorbed to PAH and PEI renders the surfaces inert, only partial protein resistance has been observed if the copolymer is deposited on APTES. In a model application, we have generated heterogeneous surfaces composed of isolated small Au nanoparticles (AuNP's) embedded in a protein-resistant layer of PAA-PEG2000 and demonstrated that the AuNP's can serve as adsorption sites for single protein species. In the future, these nanopatterned surfaces may be used for the investigation of isolated proteins.