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Tananaiko O, Walcarius A. Composite Silica-Based Films as Platforms for Electrochemical Sensors. CHEM REC 2024; 24:e202300194. [PMID: 37737456 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202300194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Sol-gel-derived silica thin films generated onto electrode surfaces in the form of organic-inorganic hybrid coatings or other composite layers have found tremendous interest for being used as platforms for the development of electrochemical sensors and biosensors. After a brief description of the strategies applied to prepare such materials, and their interest as electrode modifier, this review will summarize the major advances made so far with composite silica-based films in electroanalysis. It will primarily focus on electrochemical sensors involving both non-ordered composite films and vertically oriented mesoporous membranes, the biosensors exploiting the concept of sol-gel bioencapsulation on electrode, the spectroelectrochemical sensors, and some others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Tananaiko
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, Volodymyrska Str., 64, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01601
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2
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Varol HS, Herberger T, Kirsch M, Mikolei J, Veith L, Kannan-Sampathkumar V, Brand RD, Synatschke CV, Weil T, Andrieu-Brunsen A. Electropolymerization of Polydopamine at Electrode-Supported Insulating Mesoporous Films. CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS : A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2023; 35:9192-9207. [PMID: 38027541 PMCID: PMC10653081 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Bioinspired, stimuli-responsive, polymer-functionalized mesoporous films are promising platforms for precisely regulating nanopore transport toward applications in water management, iontronics, catalysis, sensing, drug delivery, or energy conversion. Nanopore technologies still require new, facile, and effective nanopore functionalization with multi- and stimuli-responsive polymers to reach these complicated application targets. In recent years, zwitterionic and multifunctional polydopamine (PDA) films deposited on planar surfaces by electropolymerization have helped surfaces respond to various external stimuli such as light, temperature, moisture, and pH. However, PDA has not been used to functionalize nanoporous films, where the PDA-coating could locally regulate the ionic nanopore transport. This study investigates the electropolymerization of homogeneous thin PDA films to functionalize nanopores of mesoporous silica films. We investigate the effect of different mesoporous film structures and the number of electropolymerization cycles on the presence of PDA at mesopores and mesoporous film surfaces. Our spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical analysis reveals that the amount and location (pores and surface) of deposited PDA at mesoporous films is related to the combination of the number of electropolymerization cycles and the mesoporous film thickness and pore size. In view of the application of the proposed PDA-functionalized mesoporous films in areas requiring ion transport control, we studied the ion nanopore transport of the films by cyclic voltammetry. We realized that the amount of PDA in the nanopores helps to limit the overall ionic transport, while the pH-dependent transport mechanism of pristine silica films remains unchanged. It was found that (i) the pH-dependent deprotonation of PDA and silica walls and (ii) the insulation of the indium-tin oxide (ITO) surface by increasing the amount of PDA within the mesoporous silica film affect the ionic nanopore transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Samet Varol
- Ernst-Berl
Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Department
of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician″, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Tilmann Herberger
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Marius Kirsch
- Ernst-Berl
Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Joanna Mikolei
- Ernst-Berl
Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lothar Veith
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Raoul D. Brand
- Institute
of Physical Chemistry, Justus-Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Tanja Weil
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Annette Andrieu-Brunsen
- Ernst-Berl
Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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Scala-Benuzzi M, Fernández SN, Giménez G, Ybarra G, Soler-Illia GJAA. Ordered Mesoporous Electrodes for Sensing Applications. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:24128-24152. [PMID: 37457464 PMCID: PMC10339336 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical sensors have become increasingly relevant in fields such as medicine, environmental monitoring, and industrial process control. Selectivity, specificity, sensitivity, signal reproducibility, and robustness are among the most important challenges for their development, especially when the target compound is present in low concentrations or in complex analytical matrices. In this context, electrode modification with Mesoporous Thin Films (MTFs) has aroused great interest in the past years. MTFs present high surface area, uniform pore distribution, and tunable pore size. Furthermore, they offer a wide variety of electrochemical signal modulation possibilities through molecular sieving, electrostatic or steric exclusion, and preconcentration effects which are due to mesopore confinement and surface functionalization. In order to fully exploit these advantages, it is central to develop reproducible routes for sensitive, selective, and robust MTF-modified electrodes. In addition, it is necessary to understand the complex mass and charge transport processes that take place through the film (particularly in the mesopores, pore surfaces, and interfaces) and on the electrode in order to design future intelligent and adaptive sensors. We present here an overview of MTFs applied to electrochemical sensing, in which we address their fabrication methods and the transport processes that are critical to the electrode response. We also summarize the current applications in biosensing and electroanalysis, as well as the challenges and opportunities brought by integrating MTF synthesis with electrode microfabrication, which is critical when moving from laboratory work to in situ sensing in the field of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- María
L. Scala-Benuzzi
- INTI-Micro
y Nanotecnologías, Instituto Nacional
de Tecnología Industrial, Av. Gral. Paz 5445, 1560 San Martín, Buenos
Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Nanosistemas, Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías, UNSAM-CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo 1169, 1650 San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sol N. Fernández
- INTI-Micro
y Nanotecnologías, Instituto Nacional
de Tecnología Industrial, Av. Gral. Paz 5445, 1560 San Martín, Buenos
Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Nanosistemas, Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías, UNSAM-CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo 1169, 1650 San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Calidad Industrial (INCALIN-UNSAM), Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martín, Provincia
de Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Gustavo Giménez
- INTI-Micro
y Nanotecnologías, Instituto Nacional
de Tecnología Industrial, Av. Gral. Paz 5445, 1560 San Martín, Buenos
Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriel Ybarra
- INTI-Micro
y Nanotecnologías, Instituto Nacional
de Tecnología Industrial, Av. Gral. Paz 5445, 1560 San Martín, Buenos
Aires, Argentina
| | - Galo J. A. A. Soler-Illia
- Instituto
de Nanosistemas, Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías, UNSAM-CONICET, Av. 25 de Mayo 1169, 1650 San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Rivas MV, Arenas Muñetón MJ, Bordoni AV, Lombardo MV, Spagnuolo CC, Wolosiuk A. Revisiting carboxylic group functionalization of silica sol-gel materials. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:1628-1653. [PMID: 36752739 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02279f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The carboxylic chemical group is a ubiquitous moiety present in amino acids, a ligand for transition metals, a colloidal stabilizer, and a weak acidic ion-exchanger in polymeric resins and given this property, it is attractive for responsive materials or nanopore-based gating applications. As the number of uses increases, subtle requirements are imposed on this molecular group when anchored to various platforms for the functioning of an integrated chemical system. In this context, silica stands as an inert and multipurpose platform that enables the anchoring of multiple chemical entities combined through several orthogonal synthesis methods on the interface. Surface chemical modification relies on the use of organoalkoxysilanes that must meet the demand of tuned chemical properties; this, in turn, urges for innovative approaches for having an improved, but simple, organic toolbox. Starting from commonly available molecular precursors, several approaches have emerged: hydrosilylation, click thiol-ene additions, the use of carbodiimides or the reaction between cyclic anhydrides and anchored amines. In this review, we analyze the importance of the COOH groups in the area of materials science and the commercial availability of COOH-based silanes and present new approaches for obtaining COOH-based organoalkoxide precursors. Undoubtedly, this will attract widespread interest for the ultimate design of highly integrated chemical platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Verónica Rivas
- Gerencia Química - Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CONICET, Av. Gral. Paz 1499, B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María J Arenas Muñetón
- Gerencia Química - Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CONICET, Av. Gral. Paz 1499, B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Andrea V Bordoni
- Gerencia Química - Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CONICET, Av. Gral. Paz 1499, B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - M Verónica Lombardo
- Gerencia Química - Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CONICET, Av. Gral. Paz 1499, B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Carla C Spagnuolo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Wolosiuk
- Gerencia Química - Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología, Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CONICET, Av. Gral. Paz 1499, B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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A Comparative Study of PMETAC-Modified Mesoporous Silica and Titania Thin Films for Molecular Transport Manipulation. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14224823. [PMID: 36432949 PMCID: PMC9692692 DOI: 10.3390/polym14224823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The manipulation and understanding of molecular transport across functionalized nanopores will take us closer to mimicking biological membranes and thus to design high-performance permselective separation systems. In this work, Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of (2-methacryloyloxy)-ethyltrimethylammonium chloride (METAC) was performed on both mesoporous silica and mesoporous titania thin films. Pores were proven to be filled using ellipsometry and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Furthermore, the employed method leads to a polymer overlayer, whose thickness could be discriminated using a double-layer ellipsometry model. Cyclic voltammetry experiments reveal that the transport of electrochemically active probes is affected by the PMETAC presence, both due to the polymer overlayer and the confined charge of the pore-tethered PMETAC. A more detailed study demonstrates that ion permeability depends on the combined role of the inorganic scaffolds' (titania and silica) surface chemistry and the steric and charge exclusion properties of the polyelectrolyte. Interestingly, highly charged negative walls with positively charged polymers may resemble zwitterionic polymer behavior in confined environments.
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Alvarez-Fernandez A, Fornerod MJ, Reid B, Guldin S. Solvent Vapor Annealing for Controlled Pore Expansion of Block Copolymer-Assembled Inorganic Mesoporous Films. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:3297-3304. [PMID: 35235337 PMCID: PMC9097528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Mesoporous inorganic thin films are promising materials architectures for a variety of high-value applications, ranging from optical coatings and purification membranes to sensing and energy storage devices. Having precise control over the structural parameters of the porous network is crucial for broadening their applicability. To this end, the use of block copolymers (BCP) as sacrificial structure-directing agents via micelle coassembly is a particularly attractive route, since the resultant pore size is directly related to scaling laws for the radius of gyration of the pore-forming macromolecule. However, tailoring the molecular weight of the BCP via bespoke synthesis is an elaborate process that requires precise control over highly sensitive reactions conditions. Alternative methods have emerged, based on supramolecular assembly or the addition of different swelling agents. Nevertheleses, to date, these present a negative impact on the structural order and pore size dispersity of the final inorganic mesoporous films. In this work, we propose a novel and effective method for control over pore size, porosity, and structural order, which relies on a synergistic combination of BCP selective swelling via solvent vapor annealing (SVA) and locking of the structure by condensation of the inorganic sol-gel precursors. The results obtained in this work for TiO2 establish SVA as a new, straightforward, simple, and powerful route for the fabrication of mesoporous thin-film materials with controllable structural characteristics.
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7
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Walcarius A. Electroinduced Surfactant Self-Assembly Driven to Vertical Growth of Oriented Mesoporous Films. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:3563-3575. [PMID: 34469107 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Supramolecular soft-templating approaches to mesoporous materials have revolutionized the generation of regular nanoarchitectures exhibiting unique features such as uniform pore structure with tunable dimensions, large surface area, and high pore volume, variability of composition, and/or ease of functionalization with a wide range of organo-functional groups or good hosts for the in situ synthesis of nano-objects. One appealing concept in this field is the development of ordered mesoporous thin films as such a configuration has proven to be essential for various applications including separation, sensing, catalysis (electro and photo), energy conversion and storage, photonics, solar cells, photo- and electrochromism, and low-k dielectric coatings for microelectronics, bio and nanobio devices, or biomimetic surfaces. Supported or free-standing mesoporous films are mostly prepared by evaporation induced self-assembly methods, thanks to their good processing capability and flexibility to manufacture mesostructured oxides and organic-inorganic hybrids films with periodically organized porosity.One important challenge is the control of pore orientation, especially in one-dimensional nanostructures, which is not straightforward from the above evaporation induced self-assembly methods. Accessibility of the pores represents another critical issue, which can be basically ensured in the event of effective interconnections between the pores, but the vertical alignment of mesopore channels will definitely offer the best configuration to secure the most efficient transfer processes through the mesoporous membranes. The orthogonal growth of mesochannels is however not thermodynamically favored, requiring the development of methods enabling self-organization through nonequilibrium states. We found that electrochemistry afforded a real boon to tackle this problem via the electrochemically assisted self-assembly (EASA) method, which not only provides a fast and versatile way to generate highly ordered and hexagonally packed mesopore channels but also constitutes a real platform for the development of functionalized oriented films carrying a wide range of organo-functional groups of adjustable composition and properties.This Account introduces the EASA concept and discusses its development along with the significant progress made from its discovery, notably in view of recent advances on the functionalization of oriented mesoporous silica films, which expand their fields of application. EASA is based on the in situ combination of electrochemically triggered pH-induced polycondensation of silica precursors with electrochemical interfacial surfactant templating, leading to the very fast (a few seconds) growth of vertically aligned silica walls through self-assembly around surfactant hemimicelles transiently formed onto the underlying support. This method benefits from the possibility to deposit uniform thin films onto surfaces of different natures and complex morphologies including at the microscale. From this discovery, our research expanded to cover domains beyond the simple production of bare silica films, turning to the challenge of incorporation and exploitation of organo-functional groups or nanofilaments. So far, the great majority of methods developed for the functionalization of mesoporous silica is based on postsynthesis grafting or co-condensation approaches, which suffer from serious limitations with oriented films (pore blocking, lack of ordering). We demonstrated the uniqueness of EASA combined with click chemistry to afford a versatile and universal route to oriented mesoporous films bearing organo-functional groups of multiple composition. This opened perspectives for future developments and applications, some of which (sensing, permselective coatings, energy storage, electrocatalysis, electrochromism) are also considered in this Account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Walcarius
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie Physique et Microbiologie pour les Matériaux et l’Environnement (LCPME), 405 Rue de Vandoeuvre, F-54000 Nancy, France
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9
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Alvarez-Fernandez A, Reid B, Suthar J, Choy SY, Jara Fornerod M, Mac Fhionnlaoich N, Yang L, Schmidt-Hansberg B, Guldin S. Fractionation of block copolymers for pore size control and reduced dispersity in mesoporous inorganic thin films. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:18455-18462. [PMID: 32941587 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr05132b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Mesoporous inorganic thin films are promising materials architectures for a variety of applications, including sensing, catalysis, protective coatings, energy generation and storage. In many cases, precise control over a bicontinuous porous network on the 10 nm length scale is crucial for their operation. A particularly promising route for structure formation utilizes block copolymer (BCP) micelles in solution as sacrificial structure-directing agents for the co-assembly of inorganic precursors. This method offers pore size control via the molecular weight of the pore forming block and is compatible with a broad materials library. On the other hand, the molecular weight dependence impedes continuous pore tuning and the intrinsic polymer dispersity presents challenges to the pore size homogeneity. To this end, we demonstrate how chromatographic fractionation of BCPs provides a powerful method to control the pore size and dispersity of the resulting mesoporous thin films. We apply a semi-preparative size exclusion chromatographic fractionation to a polydisperse poly(isobutylene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PIB-b-PEO) BCP obtained from scaled-up synthesis. The isolation of BCP fractions with distinct molecular weight and narrowed dispersity allowed us to not only tune the characteristic pore size from 9.1 ± 1.5 to 14.1 ± 2.1 nm with the identical BCP source material, but also significantly reduce the pore size dispersity compared to the non-fractionated BCP. Our findings offer a route to obtain a library of monodisperse BCPs from a polydisperse feedstock and provide important insights on the direct relationship between macromolecular characteristics and the resulting structure-directed mesopores, in particular related to dispersity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Alvarez-Fernandez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
| | - Barry Reid
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
| | - Jugal Suthar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK. and UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Swan Yia Choy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
| | - Maximiliano Jara Fornerod
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
| | - Niamh Mac Fhionnlaoich
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
| | - Lixu Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
| | - Benjamin Schmidt-Hansberg
- BASF SE, Process Research & Chemical Engineering, Coating & Film Processing, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Stefan Guldin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
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John D, Mohammadi R, Vogel N, Andrieu-Brunsen A. Surface-Plasmon- and Green-Light-Induced Polymerization in Mesoporous Thin Silica Films. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:1671-1679. [PMID: 32045256 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The near-field of surface plasmon resonances at planar metal surfaces is confined to the nanoscale, but its resonance wavelength is located in the visible light range, making it interesting for confining polymer functionalization of surfaces but incompatible with the majority of polymerization reactions. Here, fluorescein as a polymerization initiator allowing dye-sensitized polymerization with green light (438-540 nm) is demonstrated to allow polymer functionalization of mesoporous films deposited onto planar silver metal layers. The fluorescein-induced polymer functionalization of mesoporous silica films is investigated with respect to the influence of irradiation power and irradiation time and its potential to generate polymer gradients. Finally, the polymer functionalization of mesoporous films upon surface-plasmon-initiated polymerization is demonstrated. Polymer functionalization thereby determines pH-responsive ionic mesopore accessibility. Consequently, these results present a sound basis for further nanoscale near-field-induced polymer functionalization of porous films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel John
- Ernst-Berl-Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie , Technische Universität Darmstadt , 64287 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Reza Mohammadi
- Institute of Particle Technology , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg , Cauerstraße 4 , D-91058 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Nicolas Vogel
- Institute of Particle Technology , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg , Cauerstraße 4 , D-91058 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Annette Andrieu-Brunsen
- Ernst-Berl-Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie , Technische Universität Darmstadt , 64287 Darmstadt , Germany
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Alvarez-Fernandez A, Reid B, Fornerod MJ, Taylor A, Divitini G, Guldin S. Structural Characterization of Mesoporous Thin Film Architectures: A Tutorial Overview. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:5195-5208. [PMID: 31961128 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b17899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Mesoporous thin film architectures are an important class of materials that exhibit unique properties, which include high surface area, versatile surface functionalization, and bicontinuous percolation paths through a broad library of pore arrangements on the 10 nm length scale. Although porosimetry of bulk materials via sorption techniques is common practice, the characterization of thin mesoporous films with small sample volumes remains a challenge. A range of techniques are geared toward providing information over pore morphology, pore size distribution, surface area and overall porosity, but none of them offers a holistic evaluation and results are at times inconsistent. In this work, we present a tutorial overview for the reliable structural characterization of mesoporous films. Three model samples with variable pore size and porosity prepared by block copolymer (BCP) coassembly serve for a rational comparison. Various techniques are assessed side-by-side, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), and ellipsometric porosimetry (EP). We critically discuss advantages and limitations of each technique and provide guidelines for reliable implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Alvarez-Fernandez
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , United Kingdom
| | - Barry Reid
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , United Kingdom
| | - Maximiliano J Fornerod
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , United Kingdom
| | - Alaric Taylor
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , United Kingdom
| | - Giorgio Divitini
- Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy , University of Cambridge , 27 Charles Babbage Road , Cambridge CB3 0FS , United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Guldin
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , United Kingdom
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Rodríguez RC, Troiani H, Moya SE, Bruno MM, Angelomé PC. Bimetallic Ag-Au Nanoparticles Inside Mesoporous Titania Thin Films: Synthesis by Photoreduction and Galvanic Replacement, and Catalytic Activity. Eur J Inorg Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201901186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rusbel Coneo Rodríguez
- Gerencia Química & Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CONICET; Av. Gral. Paz 1499 B1650KNA San Martín Buenos Aires Argentina
- Departamento de Química; Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, CONICET; X5804BYA Río Cuarto Córdoba Argentina
| | - Horacio Troiani
- Departamento de Caracterización de Materiales, GIA; CONICET, Centro Atómico Bariloche, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; 8400 San Carlos de Bariloche Río Negro Argentina
| | - Sergio E. Moya
- CIC biomaGUNE; Paseo de Miramón 182 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián Spain
| | - Mariano M. Bruno
- Departamento de Química; Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, CONICET; X5804BYA Río Cuarto Córdoba Argentina
| | - Paula C. Angelomé
- Gerencia Química & Instituto de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CONICET; Av. Gral. Paz 1499 B1650KNA San Martín Buenos Aires Argentina
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13
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Reid B, Alvarez-Fernandez A, Schmidt-Hansberg B, Guldin S. Tuning Pore Dimensions of Mesoporous Inorganic Films by Homopolymer Swelling. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:14074-14082. [PMID: 31577151 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The functionality and applications of mesoporous inorganic films are closely linked to their mesopore dimensions. For material architectures derived from a block copolymer (BCP) micelle coassembly, the pore size is typically manipulated by changing the molecular weight corresponding to the pore-forming block. However, bespoke BCP synthesis is often a costly and time-consuming process. An alternative method for pore size tuning involves the use of swelling agents, such as homopolymers (HPs), which selectively interact with the core-forming block to increase the micelle size in solution. In this work, poly(isobutylene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) micelles were swollen with poly(isobutylene) HP in solution and coassembled with aluminosilicate sol with the aim of increasing the resulting pore dimensions. An analytical approach implementing spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and ellipsometric porosimetry (EP) alongside atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in transmission and grazing-incidence (GISAXS) modes enabled us to study the material evolution from solution processing through the manifestation of the mesoporous inorganic film after BCP removal. The in-depth SE/EP analysis evidenced an increase of more than 45% in mesopore diameter with HP swelling and a consistent scaling of the overall void volume and number of pores. Importantly, our analytical toolbox enabled us to study the effect of swelling on the connecting necks between adjacent pores, with observed increases as high as ≈35%, offering novel pathways to sensing, electrochemical, and other mass-transfer-dependent applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry Reid
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
| | - Alberto Alvarez-Fernandez
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
| | - Benjamin Schmidt-Hansberg
- BASF SE, Process Research & Chemical Engineering, Coating & Film Processing , Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38 , 67056 Ludwigshafen am Rhein , Germany
| | - Stefan Guldin
- Department of Chemical Engineering , University College London , Torrington Place , London WC1E 7JE , U.K
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Tom JC, Appel C, Andrieu-Brunsen A. Fabrication and in situ functionalisation of mesoporous silica films by the physical entrapment of functional and responsive block copolymer structuring agents. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:8077-8083. [PMID: 31583395 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm00872a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive mesoporous silica films were prepared by evaporation-induced self-assembly through the physical entrapment of a functional block copolymer structuring agent, which simultaneously serves to functionalise the mesopore. These polymer-silica hybrid materials exhibit remarkable ionic permselectivity under highly filled conditions, and offer the potential for local polymer functionalisation for enhanced and tunable ionic permselectivity. This innovative and simple approach for the in situ functionalisation of mesoporous silica has the potential to improve how we approach the design of complex architectures at the nanoscale for enhanced transport, and is thus relevant for a variety of technologies based on molecular transport in nanoscale pores including separation, sensing, catalysis, and energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Tom
- Ernst-Berl Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 12, Darmstadt 64287, Germany
| | - Christian Appel
- Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstraße 8, Darmstadt 64289, Germany.
| | - Annette Andrieu-Brunsen
- Ernst-Berl Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 12, Darmstadt 64287, Germany
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15
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Herzog N, Brilmayer R, Stanzel M, Kalyta A, Spiehl D, Dörsam E, Hess C, Andrieu-Brunsen A. Gravure printing for mesoporous film preparation. RSC Adv 2019; 9:23570-23578. [PMID: 35530608 PMCID: PMC9069313 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra04266k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study presents gravure printing as a new strategy for rapid printing of ceramic mesoporous thin films and highlights its advantages over conventional mesoporous film preparation using evaporation induced self-assembly together with dip-coating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Herzog
- Ernst-Berl Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64287 Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Robert Brilmayer
- Ernst-Berl Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64287 Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Mathias Stanzel
- Ernst-Berl Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64287 Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Anastasia Kalyta
- Ernst-Berl Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64287 Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Dieter Spiehl
- Institute of Printing Science and Technology
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64289 Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Edgar Dörsam
- Institute of Printing Science and Technology
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64289 Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Christian Hess
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut für Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64287 Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Annette Andrieu-Brunsen
- Ernst-Berl Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- D-64287 Darmstadt
- Germany
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