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Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films
Published on: June 3, 2015
Novel layer-by-layer interfacial [Ni(salen)]-polyelectrolyte hybrid films
Sónia Patrício1, Ana I Cruz, Krzysztof Biernacki
1REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 19, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed novel multilayer films using a Ni(salen) complex and poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) via layer-by-layer assembly. These films exhibit controlled growth and unique permeability properties, offering insights into advanced material design.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Multilayer films are constructed using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly.
- Ni(salen)-type complexes and poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (NaPSS) are key components for novel film properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assemble and characterize novel multilayer films with a cationic phosphonium-derivatized Ni(salen)-type complex and NaPSS.
- To investigate the growth, interactions, and permeability of these films on various surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique.
- Spectroscopic (UV-vis) and gravimetric (QCM) analyses for film growth and composition.
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for elemental analysis.
- Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for permeability studies.
Main Results:
- Stepwise film growth and strong electrostatic interactions confirmed by UV-vis and QCM.
- Evidence of space-filling solvent within PSS layers, indicated by XPS and gravimetric data.
- Enhanced interactions due to secondary noncovalent pi-system interactions.
- Permeability studies showed shifts in kinetic and diffusional processes with increasing bilayers, analyzed via a capillary membrane model (CMM).
Conclusions:
- The LbL technique successfully produced multilayer films with predictable growth.
- The films possess unique structural and permeability characteristics influenced by electrostatic and noncovalent interactions.
- The CMM analysis provided quantitative data on film properties like coverage, resistance, capacitance, pore size, and diffusion coefficient.
