Conducting polymer diffraction gratings on gold surfaces created by microcontact printing and electropolymerization at submicron length scales

Conducting polymer diffraction gratings on Au substrates have been created using microcontact printing of C18-alkanethiols, followed by electropolymerization of either poly(aniline) (PANI) or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Soft-polymer replicas of simple diffraction grating masters (1200 lines/mm) were used to define the alkanethiol template for polymer growth. Growth of PANI and PEDOT diffraction gratings was followed in real time, through in situ tapping-mode atomic force microscopy, and by monitoring diffraction efficiency (DE) as a function of grating depth. DE increased as grating depth increased, up to a limiting efficiency (13-26%, with white light illumination), defined by the combined optical properties of the grating and the Au substrate, and ultimately limited by the loss of resolution due to coalescence of the polymer films. Grating efficiency is strongly dependent upon the grating depth and the refractive index contrast between the grating material and the surrounding solutions. Both PEDOT and PANI gratings show refractive index changes as a function of applied potential, consistent with changes in refractive index brought about by the doping/dedoping of the conducting polymer. The DE of PANI gratings are strongly dependent on the pH of the superstrate solution; the maximum sensitivity (DeltaDE/DeltapH) is achieved with PANI gratings held at +0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl, where the redox chemistry is dominated by the acid-base equilibrium between the protonated (emeraldine salt) and deprotonated (emeraldine base) forms of PANI. Simulations of DE were conducted for various combinations of conducting polymer refractive index and grating depth, to compute sensitivity parameters, which are maximized when the grating depth is ca. 50% of its maximum obtainable depth.     

Adsorption of sulfonated dyes by polyaniline emeraldine salt and its kinetics

A method for the removal of anionic (sulfonated) dyes from aqueous dye solutions using the chemical interaction of dye molecules with polyaniline is reported. Polyaniline (PANI) emeraldine salt was synthesized by chemical oxidation. Sulfonated dyes undergo chemical interactions with the charged backbone of PANI, leading to significant adsorption of the dyes. This phenomenon of selective adsorption of the dyes by PANI is reported for the first time and promises a green method for removal of sulfonated organics from wastewater. The experimental observations from UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and conductivity measurements rule out the possibility of secondary doping of polyaniline salt by sulfonated dye molecules. A possible mechanism for the chemical interaction between the polymer and the sulfonated dye molecules is proposed. The kinetic parameters for the adsorption of sulfonated dyes on PANI are also reported.     

Voltammetric and waveguide spectroelectrochemical characterization of ultrathin poly(aniline)/poly(acrylic acid) films self-assembled on indium-tin oxide

We report on the spectroelectrochemical characterization of conducting polymer (CP) films, composed of alternating layers of poly(aniline) (PANI) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), deposited on ITO-coated, planar glass substrates using layer-by-layer self-assembly. Absorbance changes associated with voltammetrically induced redox changes in ultrathin films composed of only two bilayers (ITO/PANI/PAA/PANI/PAA) were monitored in real time using a unique multiple reflection, broadband attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectrometer. CP films in contact with pH 7 buffer undergo a single oxidation/reduction process, with ca. 12.5% of the aniline centers in the film being oxidized and reduced. The ATR spectra indicate that during an anodic sweep, the leucoemeraldine form of PANI in these films is oxidized to generate both the emeraldine and pernigraniline forms simultaneously. A comparison of the behavior observed during anodic and cathodic sweeps suggests that the rate of oxidation is limited by structural changes in the polymer film originating in electrostatic repulsion between positively charged PANI chains.     

Phase Gratings in Photoreactive Polymers:A Way to Optically Pumped Organic Lasers

 Poly-(4-vinylbenzyl-thiocyanate) (PVBT) was investigated as a photoreactive polymer which changes its refractive index upon UV irradiation as is required for the production of phase gratings. After UV irradiation, the refractive index of PVBT films increased from n_D ²⁰ = 1.629 to n_D ²⁰ = 1.660 (Δn = +0.031). The change in the refractive index resulted mainly from the photoinduced isomerization of thiocyanate (SCN) to isothiocyanate (NCS) groups. It was possible to modify irradiated PVBT with 1-naphthylmethyl amine which lead to a further increase of the refractive index. Both the isomerization and the modification were followed with FTIR spectroscopy. This modification of the irradiated zones also yields an advantageous stabilization of phase gratings enscribed in PVBT. The investigations were carried out in the realm of novel organic distributed feedback (DFB) lasers.     

Cerium dioxide/polyaniline core-shell nanocomposites

The preparation of CeO2/polyaniline (CeO2/PANI) core-shell nanocomposites via chemical oxidation of aniline using CeO2 as an oxidant is reported. TEM, TGA, FT-IR, XPS, and conductivity measurement are used to characterize the resulting composites. TEM measurements reveal that the shape of PANI/CeO2 nanocomposites is different from CeO2 nanoparticles and fibular PANI oxidized with soluble oxidant. Electron diffraction (ED) patterns of CeO2/PANI nanocomposites reveal single crystal of CeO2. FT-IR spectra confirmed the formation of PANI; the amount of PANI in the nanocomposites is estimated by TGA results. The conductivities increase with the increasing ratio of PANI/CeO2. XPS results reveal that in the nanocomposites Ce4+ of CeO2 is reduced to Ce3+. In addition, the degree of protonation of polyaniline obtained from N 1s XPS results in cerium dioxide/polyaniline composites is about 48.52%.     

Phase Gratings in Photoreactive Polymers:A Way to Optically Pumped Organic Lasers

Summary.  Poly-(4-vinylbenzyl-thiocyanate) (PVBT) was investigated as a photoreactive polymer which changes its refractive index upon UV irradiation as is required for the production of phase gratings. After UV irradiation, the refractive index of PVBT films increased from n_D ²⁰ = 1.629 to n_D ²⁰ = 1.660 (Δn = +0.031). The change in the refractive index resulted mainly from the photoinduced isomerization of thiocyanate (SCN) to isothiocyanate (NCS) groups. It was possible to modify irradiated PVBT with 1-naphthylmethyl amine which lead to a further increase of the refractive index. Both the isomerization and the modification were followed with FTIR spectroscopy. This modification of the irradiated zones also yields an advantageous stabilization of phase gratings enscribed in PVBT. The investigations were carried out in the realm of novel organic distributed feedback (DFB) lasers. Received August 22, 2000. Accepted September 22, 2000     

偶氮苯聚合物(PGMAA-20)膜光栅结构的分子取向机制

设计合成及表征了一种含偶氮苯聚合物(PGMAA 20)材料.利用两束S偏振光作为泵浦光在PGMAA 20膜上刻写光栅并观察光栅的衍射信号;然后再用相衬显微镜直接观察偶氮苯薄膜上的光栅结构,并以分子取向机制为基础对光栅形成和消除过程提出了新解释,这种观点被实验观察结果进一步证实.     

Large-scale resonance amplification of optical sensing of volatile compounds with chemoresponsive visible-region diffraction gratings

Micropatterning of the vapochromic charge-transfer salt, [Pt(CNC6H4C10H21)4][Pd(CN)4], on transparent platforms yields transmissive chemoresponsive diffraction gratings. Exposure of the gratings to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as chloroform and methanol leads to VOC uptake by the porous material comprising the grating lattice or framework, and a change in the material's complex refractive index, ?. The index change is accompanied by a change in the degree of index contrast between the lattice and the surrounding medium (in this case, air), and a change in the diffraction efficiency of the grating. When a monochromatic light source that is not absorbed by the lattice material is employed as a probe beam, only changes in the real component of ? are sensed. Under these conditions, the grating behaves as a nonselective, but moderately sensitive, sensor for those VOCs capable of permeating the porous lattice material. When a probe color is shifted to a wavelength coincident with the vapochromic charge-transfer transition of the lattice material, the sensor response is selectively amplified by up to 3.5 orders of magnitude, resulting in greatly enhanced sensitivity and some degree of chemical specificity. On the basis of studies at four probe wavelengths, the amplification effect is dominated by resonant changes in the imaginary component of the refractive index. The observed wavelength- and analyte-dependent amplification effects are quantitatively well described by a model that combines a Kramers-Kronig analysis with an effective-medium treatment of dielectric effects.     

Electrochemically tunable surface-plasmon-enhanced diffraction gratings and their (bio-)sensing applications

Electrochemistry was combined with surface-plasmon-enhanced diffraction (ESPD) to investigate a redox-switchable polymer grating and its (bio-)sensing applications. Patterned arrays of polyaniline (PANI)/ poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) were fabricated by the combination of electropolymerization and micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) and were used as an optical grating for surface-plasmon-enhanced diffraction experiments. The diffraction efficiency (DE) could be tuned by changes in the applied potential, and by changes in the pH of the surrounding solution (dielectric medium). The response of the DE to the pH depends strongly on the redox state of the PANI/PSS grating. If the polymer grating is mainly in its reduced state, the DE shows a linear dependence on the pH. The DE of the PANI/PSS grating can also be modulated by an electrocatalytic event: by keeping PANI/PSS in its oxidized form, the addition of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) increases the DE with the increase of NADH concentration, which points to the possibility of the use of ESPD technologies for biosensing.     

Analysis of the kinetics of diffraction efficiency during the holographic grating recording in azobenzene functionalized polymers

The laser-assisted holographic grating recording process in films of azobenzene functionalized polymers is usually studied by observation of the efficiency of light scattering on a developing in time diffraction grating. Various possible mechanisms contributing to grating formation as well as the bulk or surface origin (bulk refractive index and/or relief grating) of light scattering make the analysis of kinetics of grating recording, from the light scattering data only, difficult and ambiguous. To fully explain experimentally observed various and complex (frequently nonexponential) kinetics of the first-order light diffraction intensity, we considered a simple single-exponential growth of the two phase gratings in the same polymer film. In modeling we assumed that the bulk refractive index grating Deltan(t) and the surface relief grating Deltad(t) differ considerably in their growth rates and we allowed for a nonstationary phase shift Deltaphi(t) between them which was experimentally observed during the recording process. The origin of the nonstationary phase shift is a result of a slow shift of interference pattern due to delicate symmetry breaking in illumination conditions (e.g., difference in beam intensities and deviation of exact symmetrical beam incidence angles on the sample). Changing only such parameters as stationary amplitudes of refractive index and relief gratings for a span of phase shifts (0-pi) between them, we obtained a series of kinetic responses which we discuss and interpret. The various examples of temporal evolution of diffraction efficiency for the same grating formation kinetics, modeled in our work, supply evidence that great care must be taken to properly interpret the experimental results.     

光漂白全过程中聚合物薄膜折射率和厚度的实时分析

在基于衰减全反射原理的基础上提出一种新的测量方法, 动态研究漂白动力学过程, 即利用波导的衰减全反射吸收峰对聚合物材料的折射率和厚度敏感的特性, 实时测量聚合物材料的折射率和厚度. 实验系统采用CCD摄像头将标志波导模式的一组暗线显示在计算机屏幕上, 然后根据暗线的移动, 可以精确测量每一时刻波导薄膜的折射率和膜厚. 利用这种技术, 对聚合物薄膜的光漂白过程进行了实时监控. 发现在光漂白全过程中, 聚合物薄膜的折射率和厚度的变化同时存在化学和物理两种变化过程.     

Smart hydrogels for Novel Optical Functions

Nanocomposites of inherently conductive polyaniline (PANI) within a highly hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based hydrogel have been produced by coupling a conventional dispersion chemical oxidative polymerization to a subsequent high energy irradiation step, in order to convert the polymer stabilizing the aqueous dispersion, namely the PVA, into a highly water swollen hydrogel incorporating the PANI particles. The incorporation of the electroactive and “pH-sensitive” polymer into a transparent and highly permeable hydrogel matrix has been pursued as a route to the development of a novel class of potentially biocompatible, smart hydrogels that can respond to changes of the surrounding environment with measurable changes in their optical properties. Absorption spectra show that the optical absorption bands typical of PANI, known to be reversibly affected by changes of the polymer oxidation state or pH or both, are well preserved in the PVA hydrogels. Even more interestingly, fluorescence is observed from the nanoparticles of PANI in its inherently conductive form, whose intensity is strongly affected by changes of pH. This has enhanced the importance of this material to a large extent from both a scientific and a practical point of view.     

Synthesis and characterization of single‐wall‐carbon‐nanotube‐doped emeraldine salt and base polyaniline nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of polyaniline (PANI) and single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were prepared and characterized via resonance Raman and electronic absorption spectroscopy (ultraviolet–visible/near‐infrared). The chemical synthesis of PANI was performed in the presence of SWNTs in concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 wt % (SWNT/PANI). The obtained materials were hydrophilic, homogeneous composite compounds. The chemical interaction between PANI (in the conducting emeraldine salt form and in the insulating emeraldine base form) and metallic and semiconducting nanotubes was investigated. The emeraldine salt form of the polymer was significantly stabilized in the composite in comparison with plain PANI. A selective electronic interaction process between PANI and metallic SWNTs was found. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 815–822, 2005     

In-situ characterization of thin polymer films for applications in chemical sensing of volatile organic compounds by spectroscopic ellipsometry

Polymer coatings are applied in many kinds of chemical sensors. The interaction with organic vapours changes the physical properties of the coating material. For optical sensors, changes in the coating volume and the complex refractive index are most important. Spectroscopic ellipsometry has been applied for the first time to the in-situ characterization of thin poly(dimethylsiloxane) films in contact with tetrachloroethene, toluene and cyclohexane vapours. The differences in bulk refractive index between organic solvent and polymer are large for toluene and tetrachloroethene and both effects were studied separately. Cyclohexane has a bulk refractive index very close to the investigated poly(dimethylsiloxane) films. Therefore the calculation of the volume fraction of the analyte in the mixture phase with the polymer is subject to large errors for vapour concentrations below 5000 ppm. Paper presented at the ANAKON ’95, Schliersee, München, Germany     

Effect of cellulose nanofibers on induced polymerization of aniline and formation of nanostructured conducting composite

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), derived from the most abundant and renewable biopolymer, are known as natural one-dimensional nanomaterials because of their high aspect ratio. CNFs also are rich in hydroxyl groups, offering opportunities for functionalization toward development of high-value nanostructured composites. Herein, CNFs were extracted from poplar wood powder by chemical pretreatment combined with high-intensity ultrasonication, and then coated with polyaniline (PANI) through in situ polymerization. The PANI-coated CNFs formed nanostructured frameworks around PANI, thereby conferring the CNF/PANI composite with stability and higher charge transport. The optimum PANI content to achieve maximum conductivity of CNF/PANI composites was determined. The morphology, crystall structure, chemical composition, and conductivity of the samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and four-point probe method, respectivily. Our results demonstrated that CNFs can be effective as a template for a flexible and stable conducting polymer to form higher-order nanostructures.     

Ascorbic Acid Oxidation at Nonmodified and Copper‐Modified Polyaniline and Poly‐ortho‐methoxyaniline Coated Electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation of ascorbate ions is comparatively studied at polyaniline (PANI) and poly‐ortho‐methoxyaniline (POMA) layers in absence and presence of electrodeposited copper species. In comparison to PANI, POMA layers allow decreasing the overpotential necessary for driving the ascorbate oxidation reaction. A nonlinear dependence of the ascorbate oxidation current on the polymer layer redox charge is found. Copper electrodeposited in PANI and POMA layers is electrocatalytically active for the investigated reaction. Two separate oxidation waves are observed in the case of Cu‐PANI whereas a single ascorbate oxidation wave and enhanced currents are found in the Cu‐POMA case.     

Physicochemical interactions between polyaniline and graphene oxide: the reasons for the stability of their chemical structure and thermal properties

Several works are reported in the literature on the use of a conducting polymer such as polyaniline (PANI) and its combination with graphene oxide (GO). Graphene derivatives have an important contribution to improve the electrochemical performance of charge transfer and polarization of the polymer in energy storage cells. To understand the chemical phenomena in PANI–GO interaction, this article presents the relationships of the thermal, chemical, and morphostructural properties of this composite material. This synergistic effect between the materials is responsible for performance enhancing. Therefore, in this work, after PANI electrosynthesis on carbon fiber and further dipping of GO, Field Emission Gun, Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray Excited Electron Photon Spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and thermogravimetric techniques were used to characterize these materials. GO tends to stabilize the molecular structure of PANI in its protonation/deprotonation and redox processes. Through thermal analysis, it was possible to observe that GO increases the stability of PANI at higher temperatures, minimizing mass loss rates and changing the polymer's glass transition temperature. And when observing the structure of the material under the influence of temperature, the GO kept the structures practically unaltered (PANI crystallographic orientation) up to 150 °C. These facts highlight important material stability data to be considered in energy storage system applications.     

Holographic grating recording in azobenzene functionalized polymers

A group of 22 polymers have been synthesized to test their suitability for recording holographic gratings. Polyamides, polyimides, polyesters and their combinations were functionalized with pendant azobenzene groups containing single or double N=N. The polymers were studied using a standard degenerate two-wave mixing technique, which enables measurement of light-induced periodic modification of polymer refractive index and absorption coefficient by analysis of the diffracted light. Two qualitatively different configurations of the holographic polarization recording were used, s-s and s-p. The relationship between structural properties of polymer matrix and azobenzene groups and the holographic grating recording kinetics and light diffraction efficiency was investigated.     

A novel process for holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal system via simultaneous photo-polymerization and siloxane network formation

Formation of transmission holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal gratings was studied for matrix components of trimethylolpropane triacrylate:trimethoxysilylmethyl methacrylate:1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (reactive diluent) in the range from 80:10:10,wt% to 10:80:10,wt% and E7 as nematic liquid crystal under the irradiation with Nd-YAG laser (532,nm). The optimum concentration of E7 in the recording solution was 35,wt% (65,wt% of matrix components) in presence of small amounts of radical photo-initiator system (Rose Bengal 0.05,wt%, NPG 0.1,wt%). When the concentration of methacrylate in matrix components was low (< 30%), gratings with apparently high diffraction efficiency could be fabricated both for trimethoxysilylmethyl methacrylate (cross-linkable by hydrolysis) and trimethylsilylmethyl methacrylate (non-cross-linkable by hydrolysis), although transiently high initial diffraction efficiency was observed by the non-equilibrium initial photo-polymerization of cross-linking components. Distinct difference was seen at higher concentration (> 50,wt%) of the methacrylates. Contrary to that gratings with reasonably high and stable diffraction efficiency were successfully fabricated with trimethoxysilylmethyl methacrylate, gratings with only low diffraction efficiency were obtained for non-cross-linkable trimethylsilylmethyl methacrylate. With higher concentration of photo-sensitizer and photo-initiator (0.2,wt%; 1.0,wt%), and shorter irradiation time, gratings with high diffraction efficiency could be fabricated only for the photo-initiator system of 3,3′-carbonylbis(7-diethylaminocoumarin) and diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate with shorter induction period (∼174,s). Grating with diffraction efficiency of 72% was obtained with trimethoxysilylpropyl acrylate (80,wt% in the matrix component) and 35,wt% E7. By increasing the concentration of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate to 2,wt%, diffraction efficiency increased to 85% and induction period was shortened to 129,s, and low volume shrinkage of 8% was attained via simultaneous radical cross-linking of trimethylolpropane triacrylate and siloxane network formation of trimethoxysilyl groups of trimethoxysilylmethyl acrylate by atmospheric moisture catalyzed by cationic species produced from the initiator system. In SEM morphology, although gratings formed with high concentration of trimethoxysilylpropyl acrylate had some cracks in polymer matrix, the largest grating spacing indicating the lowest volume shrinkage and very regular and well-defined gratings were observed.     

Thermal degradation of polyaniline films prepared in solutions of strong and weak acids and in water - FTIR and Raman spectroscopic studies

Polyaniline (PANI) films were prepared in situ on silicon windows during the oxidation of aniline with ammonium peroxydisulfate in aqueous solutions of strong (0.1 M sulfuric) or weak (0.4 M acetic) acid or without any acid. In solutions of sulfuric acid, a granular PANI is produced, in solutions of weak acids or without any acid, PANI nanotubes are obtained. The thermal stability and structural variation of the corresponding films produced on silicon windows during treatment at 80 °C for three months were studied by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. The morphology of the films is preserved during the degradation but the molecular structure changes. The results indicate that the spectral changes correspond to deprotonation, oxidation and chemical crosslinking reactions. The films of PANI salts loose their protonating acid. PANI bases are more stable than the salt forms during thermal ageing. The films obtained in water or in the presence of acetic acid are more stable than those prepared in solutions of sulfuric acid. The protonated structure is more prone to crosslinking reactions than deprotonated one. The molecular structure corresponding to the nanotubular morphology, which contains the crosslinked phenazine- and oxazine-like groups, is more stable than the molecular structure of the granular morphology.