Fabrication of Ultrathin Films with Large Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties

PDADMAC/PSS Oligoelectrolyte Multilayers: Internal Structure and Hydration Properties at Early Growth Stages from Atomistic Simulations

We analyze the internal structure and hydration properties of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride)/poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt) oligoelectrolyte multilayers at early stages of their layer-by-layer growth process. Our study is based on large-scale molecular dynamics simulations with atomistic resolution that we presented recently [Sánchez et al., Soft Matter2019, 15, 9437], in which we produced the first four deposition cycles of a multilayer obtained by alternate exposure of a flat silica substrate to aqueous electrolyte solutions of such polymers at 0.1M of NaCl. In contrast to any previous work, here we perform a local structural analysis that allows us to determine the dependence of the multilayer properties on the distance to the substrate. We prove that the large accumulation of water and ions next to the substrate observed in previous overall measurements actually decreases the degree of intrinsic charge compensation, but this remains as the main mechanism within the interface region. We show that the range of influence of the substrate reaches approximately 3 nm, whereas the structure of the outer region is rather independent from the position. This detailed characterization is essential for the development of accurate mesoscale models able to reach length and time scales of technological interest.

Atomistic simulation of PDADMAC/PSS oligoelectrolyte multilayers: overall comparison of tri- and tetra-layer systems

By employing large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of atomistically resolved oligoelectrolytes in aqueous solutions, we study in detail the first four layer-by-layer deposition cycles of an oligoelectrolyte multilayer made of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride)/poly(styrene sulfonate sodium salt) (PDADMAC/PSS). The multilayers are grown on a silica substrate in 0.1 M NaCl electrolyte solutions and the swollen structures are then subsequently exposed to varying added salt concentration. We investigated the microscopic properties of the films, analyzing in detail the differences between three- and four-layer systems. Our simulations provide insights into the early stages of growth of a multilayer, which are particularly challenging for experimental observations. We found rather strong complexation of the oligoelectrolytes, with fuzzy layering of the film structure. The main charge compensation mechanism is for all cases intrinsic, whereas extrinsic compensation is relatively enhanced for the layer of the last deposition cycle. In addition, we quantified other fundamental observables of these systems, such as the film thickness, water uptake, and overcharge fractions for each deposition layer.

Application of Near-IR Absorption Porphyrin Dyes Derived from Click Chemistry as Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials

Recently, third‐order nonlinear properties of porphyrins and porphyrin polymers and coordination compounds have been extensively studied in relation to their use in photomedicine and molecular photonics. A new functionalized porphyrin dye containing electron‐rich alkynes was synthesized and further modified by formal [2+2] click reactions with click reagents tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and 7, 7, 8, 8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). The photophysical properties of these porphyrin dyes, as well as the click reaction, were studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy. In particular, third‐order nonlinear optical properties of the dyes, which showed typical d‐π‐A structures, were characterized by Z‐scan techniques. In addition, the self‐assembly properties were investigated through the phase‐exchange method, and highly organized morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of the click post‐functionalization on the properties of the porphyrins were studied, and these functionalized porphyrin dyes represent an interesting set of candidates for optoelectronic device components.

Synthesis and third-order nonlinear optical properties of triphenylene derivatives modified by click chemistry

A series of asymmetric triphenylene derivatives containing typical D-π-A structures is successfully synthesized by means of [2+2] cycloaddition-cycloreversion click reactions. The photophysical and electrochemical properties, as well as the click reactions, are characterized by means of UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and DFT modulations. In addition, the third-order nonlinear properties, including the nonlinear absorption and the nonlinear susceptibilities, are investigated by using Z-scan techniques. A typical reverse saturable absorption-saturable absorption behavior is observed for the third-order nonlinear absorption, with the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities of the compounds being 1.05×10(-12) , -1.50×10(-12) , and -0.52×10(-12) esu, respectively.

Layer-by-layer assembled microgel films with high loading capacity: reversible loading and release of dyes and nanoparticles

Multilayer films containing microgels of chemically cross-linked poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and dextran (named PAH-D) were fabricated by layer-by-layer deposition of PAH-D and poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS). The successful fabrication of PAH-D/PSS multilayer films was verified by quartz crystal microbalance measurements and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy. The as-prepared PAH-D/PSS multilayer films can reversibly load and release negatively charged dyes such as methyl orange (MO) and fluorescein sodium and mercaptoacetic acid-stabilized CdTe nanoparticles. The loading capacity of the film for MO can be as large as approximately 3.0 microg/cm2 per bilayer, which corresponds to a MO density of 0.75 g/cm3 in the film. The high loading capacity of the PAH-D/PSS films originates from the cross-linked film structure with sufficient binding groups of protonated amine groups, as well as their high swelling capability by solvent. The loaded material can be released slowly when immersing the films in 0.9% normal saline. Meanwhile, the PAH-D/PSS multilayer films could deposit directly on either hydrophilic or hydrophobic substrates such as quartz, polytetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polypropylene. The microgel films of PAH-D/PSS are expected to be widely useful as matrixes for loading functional guest materials and even for controlled release.

Room-temperature imprinting poly(acrylic acid)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) multilayer films by using polymer molds

Layer-by-layer assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer films of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) have been successfully patterned by room-temperature imprinting using a Norland Optical Adhesives (NOA 63) polymer mold. The proper amount of water in the PAA/PAH multilayer film can decrease the viscosity of the film and facilitate the imprinting. Many factors, such as imprinting pressure, length of imprinting time, and the structure and size of the patterns in the polymer mold, can produce an influence on the final imprinted pattern structures on multilayer films. A high imprinting pressure of 100 bar and elongated imprinting time of several hours is needed to achieve a patterned PAA/PAH multilayer film with a feature size of several tens of micrometers. With a twice imprinting, grid structures can be successfully produced when a NOA 63 mold having line structures is used. Room-temperature imprinting by using polymer NOA 63 mold provides a facile way to fabricate layered polymeric films with various kinds of pattern structures.

Optical nonlinear absorption and refraction of CdS and CdS-Ag core-shell quantum dots

The CdS and CdS-Ag core-shell quantum dots (QDs) have been prepared. The nanostructures of the QDs were revealed by transmisson electron microscopy and absorption spectra, respectively. The third-order nonlinear optical properties of the core-shell QDs have been studied by using Z-scan technique with femtosecond pulses at the wavelength of 790 nm. The value of the effective nonlinear absorption coefficient beta(eff) of CdS-Ag QDs is measured to be about 16.8 cm/GW, which is about 400 times larger than that of bare CdS QDs of 3.9 x 10(-2) cm/GW. The nonlinear refraction index gamma of CdS-Ag QDs is about -2.3 x 10(-4) cm(2)GW, which is about 200 times larger than that of bare CdS QDs of 1.0 x 10(-6) cm(2)GW.

Preparation and Third-Order Optical Nonlinearity of Self-Assembled Chitosan/CdSe−ZnS Core−Shell Quantum Dots Multilayer Films

The self-assembled chitosan CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and chitosan CdSe-ZnS core-shell QDs films have been prepared by using layer-by-layer electrostatic technique. The well-ordered nanostructure and the layer-by-layer deposition of the QDs are revealed by AFM and exciton absorption spectra, respectively. The optical nonlinearity of the composite films were studied by using Z-scan technique with femtosecond pulses at the wavelength of 790 nm, the value of third-order susceptibility of core-shell QDs are measured to be about 1.1 x 10(-8) esu, which is about 200% larger than that of CdSe QDs of 5.3 x 10(-9) esu. This has potential applications in all-optical switches in optical information processing.