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Successful layer-by-layer (LbL) growth of short chain (similar to 30 repeat units per chain) poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (PSS)-poly(diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) multilayers is presented for the first time and compared with the growth of equivalent long chain polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs). A detailed study performed by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) is carried out and three main processes are identified: (i) initial mass uptake, (ii) adsorption desorption during layer equilibration and (iii) desorption during rinsing. In contrast to the high stability and strong layer increment of high molecular weight (HMW) PEMs, layer degradation characterizes low molecular weight (LMW) multilayers. In particular, two different instability phenomena are observed: a constant decrease of sensed mass during equilibration after PDADMAC adsorption, and a strong mass toss by salt-free rinsing after PSS adsorption. Yet, an increase of salt concentration leads to much stronger layer growth. First, when the rinsing medium is changed from pure water to 0.1 M NaCl, the mass loss during rinsing is reduced, irrespective of molecular weight. Second, an increase in salt concentration in the LMW PE solutions causes a larger increment during the initial adsorption step, with no effect on the rinsing. Finally, the mechanical properties of the two systems are extracted from the measured frequency and dissipation shifts, as they offer a deeper insight into the multilayer structures depending on chain length and outermost layer. The paper enriches the field of PE assembly by presenting the use of very short PE chains to form multilayers and elucidates the role of preparation conditions to overcome the limitation of layer stability.
Surface modification with thermoresponsive polymer brushes for a switchable electrochemical sensor
(2014)
Elaboration of switchable surfaces represents an interesting way for the development of a new generation of electrochemical sensors. In this paper, a method for growing thermoresponsive polymer brushes from a gold surface pre-modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI), subsequent layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte assembly and adsorption of a charged macroinitiator is described. We propose an easy method for monitoring the coil-to-globule phase transition of the polymer brush using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (E-QCM-D). The surface of these polymer modified electrodes shows reversible switching from the swollen to the collapsed state with temperature. As demonstrated from E-QCM-D measurements using an original signal processing method, the switch is operating in three reversible steps related to different interfacial viscosities. Moreover, it is shown that the one electron oxidation of ferrocene carboxylic acid is dramatically affected by the change from the swollen to the collapsed state of the polymer brush, showing a spectacular 86% decrease of the charge transfer resistance between the two states.
Micellar multilayer films were prepared from an amphiphilic comb-like polycation ("polysoap") and the polyanion poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) using alternate polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly. Linear growth of the film thickness was evidenced by UV-vis spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Imaging by atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicated that the micellar conformation adopted by the polycation in solutions was preserved in the films. Thus, hydrophobic photoactive molecules, which were solubilized by the hydrophobic nanodomains of the micellar polymer prior to deposition, could be transferred into the films. Photoinduced energy transfer was observed in the nanostructured multilayers between naphthalene (donor) and perylene (acceptor) molecules embedded inside the polymer micelles. The efficiency of the energy transfer process can be controlled to some extent by introducing spacer layers between the layers containing the donor or acceptor, revealing partial stratification of the micellar LbL films. Also, photoinduced electron transfer was evidenced between perylene (donor) and butyl viologen (acceptor) molecules embedded inside the multilayers by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. The obtained photoactive nanostructures are promising candidates for solar-to-chemical energy conversion systems.
Polyelectrolytes in dilute solutions (0.01 mmol/L) adsorb in a two-dimensional lamellar phase to oppositely charged lipid monolayers at the air/water interface. The interchain separation is monitored by Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction. On monolayer compression, the interchain separation decreases to a factor of two. To investigate the influence of the electrostatic interaction, either the line charge density of the polymer is reduced (a statistic copolymer with 90% and 50% charged monomers) or mixtures between charged and uncharged lipids are used (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB)) On decrease of the surface charge density, the interchain separation increases, while on decrease of the linear charge density, the interchain separation decreases. The ratio between charged monomers and charged lipid molecules is fairly constant; it decreases up to 30% when the lipids are in the fluid phase. With decreasing surface charge or linear charge density, the correlation length of the lamellar order decreases.
H-1 NMR relaxation is used to study the self-assembly of a double thermoresponsive diblock copolymer in dilute aqueous solution. Above the first transition temperature, at which aggregation into micellar structures is observed, the trimethylsilyl (TMS)-labeled end group attached to the shell-forming block shows a biphasic T-2 relaxation. The slow contribution reflects the TMS groups located at the periphery of the hydrophilic shell, in agreement with a star-like micelle. The fast T-2 contribution corresponds to the TMS groups, which fold back toward the hydrophobic core, reflecting a flower-like micelle. These results confirm the formation of block copolymer micelles of an intermediate nature (i.e., of partial flower-like and star-like character), in which a part of the TMS end groups folds back to the core due to hydrophobic interactions.
The structures and synthesis of polyzwitterions ("polybetaines") are reviewed, emphasizing the literature of the past decade. Particular attention is given to the general challenges faced, and to successful strategies to obtain polymers with a true balance of permanent cationic and anionic groups, thus resulting in an overall zero charge. Also, the progress due to applying new methodologies from general polymer synthesis, such as controlled polymerization methods or the use of "click" chemical reactions is presented. Furthermore, the emerging topic of responsive ("smart") polyzwitterions is addressed. The considerations and critical discussions are illustrated by typical examples.
A novel perfluorinated magnesium phthalocyanine (MgPcF64) was synthesized and employed to probe nanodomains in hydrophobically modified, amphiphilic cationic polyelectrolytes bearing alkyl and/or fluoroalkyl side chains. MgPcF64 was found to be solubilized exclusively in the aqueous solutions of the fluorocarbon modified polycations, occupying the perfluorinated nanocompartments provided, while analogous polyelectrolytes with alkyl side chains forming hydrocarbon nanocompartments could not host the MgPcF64 dye. Multilayer films were fabricated by means of the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition method using sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) as a polyanion. Linear multilayer growth was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Atomic force microscopy studies indicated that the micellar conformation of the polycations is preserved in the multilayer films. Fluorescence spectroscopy measurements confirmed that MgPcF64 stays embedded inside the fluorocarbon domains after the deposition process. This facile way of selectively incorporating water-insoluble, photoactive molecules into the structure of polyelectrolyte multilayers may be utilized for nanoengineering of ultrathin film-based optoelectronic devices.
The structures and synthesis of polyzwitterions ("polybetaines") are reviewed, emphasizing the literature of the past decade. Particular attention is given to the general challenges faced, and to successful strategies to obtain polymers with a true balance of permanent cationic and anionic groups, thus resulting in an overall zero charge. Also, the progress due to applying new methodologies from general polymer synthesis, such as controlled polymerization methods or the use of "click" chemical reactions is presented. Furthermore, the emerging topic of responsive ("smart") polyzwitterions is addressed. The considerations and critical discussions are illustrated by typical examples.