Thin films of light-responsive polymers for sensing and surface patterning

Christopher J. Barrett; Ozzy Mermut; Kevin Yager

doi:10.1117/12.484193

13 August 2003 Thin films of light-responsive polymers for sensing and surface patterning

Christopher J. Barrett, Ozzy Mermut, Kevin Yager

Proceedings Volume 5053, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Active Materials: Behavior and Mechanics; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484193
Event: Smart Structures and Materials, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The kinetics of electrostatic layer-by-layer adsorption of a weakly charged polycation, poly(allylamine hydrochloride), PAH, and a polyanion containing an azobenzene chromophore, P-Azo, was studied using UV-vis spectroscopy and ellipsometry. The thickness of the multilayer films was first measured over the adsorption pH range of 3 to 11, and the growth of multilayers was examined as function of time and concentration. Films assembled in bath pH near that of their pK_a value produced both the thickest films, and displayed remarkably rapid adsorption isotherms. In some PAH/P-Azo films a significantly large thickness was achieved in less than 5 seconds, which is more than two orders of magnitude faster than what is usually observed. We show that this anomalously rapid adsorption is a consequence of the weak acid-base nature of the layers. Self-assembled polymer films containg azobenzene groups are interesting materials as the chromophores can be addressed as light-responsive groups for surface patterning and sensing.

Citation Download Citation

Christopher J. Barrett, Ozzy Mermut, and Kevin Yager "Thin films of light-responsive polymers for sensing and surface patterning", Proc. SPIE 5053, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Active Materials: Behavior and Mechanics, (13 August 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484193

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