Formation of photo-functional spiroxazine monolayers and their dielectric constant determination using surface plasmon resonance

Spiroxazine are of considerable interest as photochromic materials because of their application. On the other hand, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a well-known optical method for measuring optical constants of thin film. In this study, photochromic materials were used as self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of newly synthesized spiroxazine derivatives. We used Fresnel equation (four-layer model) to determine the precise dielectric constant () of the photochromic monolayers. Structure changes of spiroxazine derivatives under UV-light irradiation resulted in the change of optical constants, the dielectric constant and thickness. The obtained results indicated that the ring opening of photochromic spiroxazine can lead to the decrease in the dielectric constant and thickness.     

Aggregation effects on evaporation and the air/water interface of dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solutions

 The system dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (DTAOH)–water was studied by surface tension, ion-selective electrodes and evaporation in an electrobalance. Results confirmed earlier conclusions about a stepwise aggregation mechanism in DTAOH solutions. The aggregation process started at a total concentration C _T=(2.51±0.10)×10^-4 mol dm^-3) which probably corresponds to the formation of dimers. At C _T= (1.300±0.041)×10^-3 mol dm^-3 there was a change in the surface and evaporation behavior, corresponding to the formation of small, fully ionized aggregates which grew with increasing concentration. At C _T= (1.108±0.010)×10^-2 mol dm^-3 the formation of true micelles with hydroxide counterions in the Stern layer did not change significantly the evaporation and adsorption behavior. This means that between this concentration and C _T=(3.02±0.28)× M28.8n10^-2 mol dm^-3, the changes in structure were gradual. At the latter concentration there was a sudden change in the monolayer state at the air/water interface, with a strong surfactant desorption, and a major change in evaporation behavior. The changes are compatible with the formation of few, large aggregates reducing the total concentration of kinetically independent solute units, which in turn increased the activity of the solvent. This phenomenon is in agreement with literature information. The reduction in the evaporation rate of water was mainly due to the reduction of the water activity, caused by colligative effects. The reduction of the effective area available for evaporation had only a slight effect in water evaporation. Received: 9 January 1997 Accepted: 19 October 1997     

Self-assembled monolayers on Au microelectrodes

Long chain alkanethiols self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed on Au microelectrodes showed higher sensitivity towards defects than the same monolayers on macroelectrodes. The analysis of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments performed on covered microelectrodes were consistent with the formation of pinholes of about 10 nm in diameter. Moreover, the EIS data exhibited a specific behavior that was interpreted invoking the short circuiting of the pinholes impedance by the surrounding surface of the microelectrode in the high frequency domain, whereas in the low frequencies, the surface covered by the SAM was assume to act as an insulator.     

苯乙烯－马来酸酐共聚物单分子膜的静、动态性质

对不同分子量的苯乙烯－马来酸酐共聚物（PSM）单分子膜的π－A等温线、微 分曲线进行了研究，讨论了PSM单分子膜成膜过程及分子量对膜相变的影响，并用 动态膜障振动法测定了PSM单分子膜的动态弹性，结果表明，分子链的相互作用（ 如卷曲和缠结）在膜的形成中起着重要的作用，并影响膜的静、动态性质，单分子 膜的动态弹性曲线有双峰，且前者比后者小，随分子量增大，膜的凝聚性、刚性和 稳定性都增强，动态弹性都增大；且分子链的相互作用对PSM单分子性质影响增大 ，压缩过程中单分子膜的相变更明显。     

Incorporation conditions guiding the aggregation of a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored protein in Langmuir monolayers

This work investigates the process of incorporation of a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored alkaline phosphatase into Langmuir monolayers of dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid (DMPA). Three different methods of protein incorporation were assayed. When the protein solution was injected below the air–water interface after formation of the lipid monolayer a micro-heterogeneous distribution of alkaline phosphatase throughout the interface was observed. Adsorption kinetics studied by fluorescence microscopy, associated with surface pressure measurements, led to the proposition of a model in which the protein penetration is modulated by the surface packing of the monolayer and intermolecular interactions occurring between the phospholipid and the protein. At initial surface pressures higher than 20 mN m⁻¹, the protein is quickly adsorbed on the interface and the lateral diffusion drives the alkyl chains to turn towards the air phase while the polypeptide moiety faces the aqueous subphase.     

Simultaneous detection of cadmium, copper, and lead using a carbon paste electrode modified with carbamoylphosphonic acid self-assembled monolayer on mesoporous silica (SAMMS)

A new sensor was developed for simultaneous detection of cadmium (Cd²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺), and lead (Pb²⁺), based on the voltammetric response at a carbon paste electrode modified with carbamoylphosphonic acid (acetamide phosphonic acid) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on mesoporous silica (Ac-Phos SAMMS). The adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) technique involves preconcentration of the metal ions onto Ac-Phos SAMMS under an open circuit, then electrolysis of the preconcentrated species, followed by a square wave potential sweep towards positive values. Factors affecting the preconcentration process were investigated. The voltammetric responses increased linearly with the preconcentration time from 1 to 30 min or with metal ion concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 ppb. The responses also evolved in the same fashion as adsorption isotherm in the pH range of 2-6. The metal detection limits were 10 ppb after 2 min preconcentration and improved to 0.5 ppb after 20 min preconcentration.     

Template functions of particle monolayers on hydrophobic solid substrates

The template function of cationic particle monolayers bearing quaternary ammonium groups on their surfaces towards anionic colloids was investigated in this paper. Monodispersed cationic polymer particles having quaternary ammonium groups were self-organized on octadecylated glass plates through hydrophobic interaction. The morphology of the resulting particle monolayers was changed by tuning hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance of particles to fabricate aggregated type and dispersed type of particle monolayers. Gold and silver colloids were selectively deposited onto the particle monolayers through electrostatic interaction. The deposited gold and silver colloids on particle monolayers showed plasmon absorbance. Fluorescent silica colloids were also selectively deposited on particle monolayers to permit fluorescence labeling of the particle monolayers. Cationic particle monolayers fabricated on hydrophobic solid octadecylated were found to effectively work as templates for the deposition of above mentioned inorganic colloids.     

A polypyrrole/polymethylene pattern on gold using a micro-contact printing technique

A micro-contact printing technique was used to fabricate a polypyrrole/polymethylene pattern on a gold surface. ω-(N-Pyrroyl)undecanethiol (PyC₁₁SH) acts as ink for the generation of a pyrrole-terminal monolayer patterned on gold. This monolayer-patterned surface functions as a resist for the selective growth of polymethylene by catalytic decomposition of diazomethane on the gold surface. It also functions as a monomer for the electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole on the PyC₁₁SH monolayer-patterned surface. The polypyrrole/polymethylene pattern was fabricated by an electrochemical polymerization method. The polypyrrole was grown on the pyrrole-patterned surface by potential scanning between 0.0 and 1.2 V vs. Ag wire. The thickness of the polypyrrole growth increases with the increasing number of cycles. The structural features of the patterned surface can be determined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Electronic Publication     

Self-organization of polymer particles on hydrophobic solid substrates in aqueous media. II. Self-organization of cationic polymer particles on polymer films and wettability control with particle monolayers

Self-organization of cationic polymer particles through hydrophobic interaction on polymer films in aqueous system and characteristic properties of the resulting particle monolayers were investigated. Cationic polymer particles bearing quaternary ammonium groups on their surfaces effectively self-organized on polymer films. With an increase of the particle surface charge density, the surface coverage and average aggregate size (N _a) decreased. The surface coverage control was accomplished by tuning the ionic strength of the media. The wettability of polymer films for water was imparted by the formation of particle monolayers on them. Annealing of the particle monolayers resulted in the increase of the adhesive strength, while the wettability for water was lost. Further improvements of both wettability and adhesive strength of particle monolayers were achieved by the immobilization of silica colloids on the particle monolayers. This method would be effective for the hydrophilization of polymer films.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation and detection of hydrazine at gold electrode modified with iron phthalocyanine complex linked to mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayer

Electrocatalytic oxidation and detection of hydrazine in pH 7.0 conditions were studied by using gold electrode modified with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) films of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) complex axially ligated to a preformed 4-mercaptopyridine SAMs. The anodic oxidation of hydrazine in neutral pH conditions with FePc-linked-mercaptopyridine-SAM-modified gold electrode occurred at low overpotential (0.35 V versus Ag|AgCl) and the treatment of the voltammetric data showed that it was a pure diffusion-controlled reaction with the involvement of one electron in the rate-determining step. The mechanism for the interaction of hydrazine with the FePc-SAM is proposed to involve the Fe^(III)Pc/Fe^(II)Pc redox process. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Osteryoung square wave voltammetry (OSWV), hydrazine was detected over a linear concentration range of 1.3 × 10⁻⁵ to 9.2 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L with low limits of detection (ca. 5 and 11 μM for OSWV and CV, respectively). At concentrations higher than 1.2 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L the anodic peak potential shifted to 0.40 V (versus Ag|AgCl), and this was interpreted to be due to kinetic limitations resulting from the saturation of hydrazine and its oxidation products onto the redox-active monolayer film. This type of metallophthalocyanine-SAM-based electrode is a highly promising electrochemical sensor given its ease of fabrication, good catalytic activity, stability, sensitivity and simplicity.