Effect of Au nanoparticle spatial distribution on the stability of thin polymer films

Revealing the growth of copper on polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer thin films with in situ GISAXS

Copper (Cu) as an excellent electrical conductor and the amphiphilic diblock copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) as a polymer electrolyte and ionic conductor can be combined with an active material in composite electrodes for polymer lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As interfaces are a key issue in LIBs, sputter deposition of Cu contacts on PS-b-PEO thin films with high PEO fraction is investigated with in situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) to follow the formation of the Cu layer in real-time. We observe a hierarchical morphology of Cu clusters building larger Cu agglomerates. Two characteristic distances corresponding to the PS-b-PEO microphase separation and the Cu clusters are determined. A selective agglomeration of Cu clusters on the PS domains explains the origin of the persisting hierarchical morphology of the Cu layer even after a complete surface coverage is reached. The spheroidal shape of the Cu clusters growing within the first few nanometers of sputter deposition causes a highly porous Cu-polymer interface. Four growth stages are distinguished corresponding to different kinetics of the cluster growth of Cu on PS-b-PEO thin films: (I) nucleation, (II) diffusion-driven growth, (III) adsorption-driven growth, and (IV) grain growth of Cu clusters. Percolation is reached at an effective Cu layer thickness of 5.75 nm.

Love Wave Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor with Laser-Deposited Nanoporous Gold Sensitive Layer

Laser-deposited gold immobilization layers with different porosities were incorporated into Love Wave Surface Acoustic Wave sensors (LW-SAWs). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme was immobilized onto three gold interfaces with different morphologies, and the sensor response to chloroform was measured. The response of the sensors to various chloroform concentrations indicates that their sensing properties (sensitivity, limit of detection) are considerably improved when the gold layers are porous, in comparison to a conventional dense gold layer. The results obtained can be used to improve properties of SAW-based biosensors by controlling the nanostructure of the gold immobilization layer, in combination with other enzymes and proteins, since the design of the present sensor is the same as that for a Love Wave biosensor.

The spatial arrangement of a single nanoparticle in a thin polymer film and its effect on the nanoparticle diffusion

The spatial arrangement of nanoparticles (NPs) within thin polymer films may influence their properties such as the glass transition temperature. Questions regarding what may affect the spatial arrangement of NPs, however, still remain unanswered at a molecular level. In this work, we perform molecular dynamics simulations for a free-standing thin polymer film with a single NP. We find from simulations that depending on the NP size and the inter-particle interaction between the NP and polymers, one may control the spatial arrangement of the NP. When the interaction between the NP and polymers is sufficiently attractive (repulsive), the NP is likely to be placed at the center (at the surface) of the thin film in equilibrium. Interestingly, for a moderate interaction between the NP and polymers, the first-order transition occurs in the spatial arrangement of the NP as one increases the NP size: a small NP prefers the surface of the polymer film whereas a large NP prefers the center. Such a first-order transition is corroborated by calculating the free energy of the NP as a function of the position and can be understood in terms of a sixth-order Landau free energy. More interestingly, the diffusion of the NP also changes drastically due to the first-order transition in the spatial arrangement. The NP diffusion is enhanced drastically (more than expected in bulk polymer melts) as the NP is shifted to the polymer film surface.

Investigating Polymer-Metal Interfaces by Grazing Incidence Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering from Gradients to Real-Time Studies

Tailoring the polymer-metal interface is crucial for advanced material design. Vacuum deposition methods for metal layer coating are widely used in industry and research. They allow for installing a variety of nanostructures, often making use of the selective interaction of the metal atoms with the underlying polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may eventually be nanostructured, too, in order to create a hierarchy in length scales. Grazing incidence X-ray scattering is an advanced method to characterize and investigate polymer-metal interfaces. Being non-destructive and yielding statistically relevant results, it allows for deducing the detailed polymer-metal interaction. We review the use of grazing incidence X-ray scattering to elucidate the polymer-metal interface, making use of the modern synchrotron radiation facilities, allowing for very local studies via in situ (so-called "stop-sputter") experiments as well as studies observing the nanostructured metal nanoparticle layer growth in real time.

A deep look into the spray coating process in real-time-the crucial role of x-rays

Tailoring functional thin films and coating by rapid solvent-based processes is the basis for the fabrication of large scale high-end applications in nanotechnology. Due to solvent loss of the solution or dispersion inherent in the installation of functional thin films and multilayers the spraying and drying processes are strongly governed by non-equilibrium kinetics, often passing through transient states, until the final structure is installed. Therefore, the challenge is to observe the structural build-up during these coating processes in a spatially and time-resolved manner on multiple time and length scales, from the nanostructure to macroscopic length scales. During installation, the interaction of solid-fluid interfaces and between the different layers, the flow and evaporation themselves determine the structure of the coating. Advanced x-ray scattering methods open a powerful pathway for observing the involved processes in situ, from the spray to the coating, and allow for gaining deep insight in the nanostructuring processes. This review first provides an overview over these rapidly evolving methods, with main focus on functional coatings, organic photovoltaics and organic electronics. Secondly the role and decisive advantage of x-rays is outlined. Thirdly, focusing on spray deposition as a rapidly emerging method, recent advances in investigations of spray deposition of functional materials and devices via advanced x-ray scattering methods are presented.

In Situ Reductive Synthesis of Structural Supported Gold Nanorods in Porous Silicon Particles for Multifunctional Nanovectors

Porous silicon nanodisks (PSD) were fabricated by the combination of photolithography and electrochemical etching of silicon. By using PSD as a reducing agent, gold nanorods (AuNR) were in situ synthesized in the nanopores of PSD, forming PSD-supported-AuNR (PSD/AuNR) hybrid particles. The formation mechanism of AuNR in porous silicon (pSi) was revealed by exploring the role of pSi reducibility and each chemical in the reaction. With the PSD support, AuNR exhibited a stable morphology without toxic surface ligands (CTAB). The PSD/AuNR hybrid particles showed enhanced plasmonic property compared to free AuNR. Because high-density "hot spots" can be generated by controlling the distribution of AuNR supported in PSD, surface-enhanced raman scattering (SERS) using PSD/AuNR as particle substrates was demonstrated. A multifunctional vector, PSD/AuNR/DOX, composed of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded PSD/AuNR capped with agarose (agar), was developed for highly efficient, combinatorial cancer treatment. Their therapeutic efficacy was examined using two pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2. PSD/AuNR/DOX (20 μg Au and 1.25 μg DOX/mL) effectively destroyed these cells under near-IR laser irradiation (810 nm, 15 J·cm(-2) power, 90 s). Overall, we envision that PSD/AuNR may be a promising injectable, multifunctional nanovector for biomedical application.

Linking Precursor Alterations to Nanoscale Structure and Optical Transparency in Polymer Assisted Fast-Rate Dip-Coating of Vanadium Oxide Thin Films

Solution processed metal oxide thin films are important for modern optoelectronic devices ranging from thin film transistors to photovoltaics and for functional optical coatings. Solution processed techniques such as dip-coating, allow thin films to be rapidly deposited over a large range of surfaces including curved, flexible or plastic substrates without extensive processing of comparative vapour or physical deposition methods. To increase the effectiveness and versatility of dip-coated thin films, alterations to commonly used precursors can be made that facilitate controlled thin film deposition. The effects of polymer assisted deposition and changes in solvent-alkoxide dilution on the morphology, structure, optoelectronic properties and crystallinity of vanadium pentoxide thin films was studied using a dip-coating method using a substrate withdrawal speed within the fast-rate draining regime. The formation of sub-100 nm thin films could be achieved rapidly from dilute alkoxide based precursor solutions with high optical transmission in the visible, linked to the phase and film structure. The effects of the polymer addition was shown to change the crystallized vanadium pentoxide thin films from a granular surface structure to a polycrystalline structure composed of a high density of smaller in-plane grains, resulting in a uniform surface morphology with lower thickness and roughness.

Real-Time Monitoring of Morphology and Optical Properties during Sputter Deposition for Tailoring Metal-Polymer Interfaces

The reproducible low-cost fabrication of functional metal-polymer nanocomposites with tailored optoelectronic properties for advanced applications remains a major challenge in applied nanotechnology. To obtain full control over the nanostructural evolution at the metal-polymer interface and its impact on optoelectronic properties, we employed combined in situ time-resolved microfocus grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (μGISAXS) with in situ UV/vis specular reflectance spectroscopy (SRS) during sputter deposition of gold on thin polystyrene films. On the basis of the temporal evolution of the key scattering features in the real-time μGISAXS experiment, we directly observed four different growth regimes: nucleation, isolated island growth, growth of larger aggregates via partial coalescence, and continuous layer growth. Moreover, their individual thresholds were identified with subnanometer resolution and correlated to the changes in optical properties. During sputter deposition, a change in optical reflectivity of the pristine gray-blue PS film was observed ranging from dark blue color due to the presence of isolated nanoclusters at the interface to bright red color from larger Au aggregates. We used simplified geometrical assumptions to model the evolution of average real space parameters (distance, size, density, contact angle) in excellent agreement with the qualitative observation of key scattering features. A decrease of contact angles was observed during the island-to-percolation transition and confirmed by simulations. Furthermore, a surface diffusion coefficient according to the kinetic freezing model and interfacial energy of Au on PS at room temperature were calculated based on a real-time experiment. The morphological characterization is complemented by X-ray reflectivity, optical, and electron microscopy. Our study permits a better understanding of the growth kinetics of gold clusters and their self-organization into complex nanostructures on polymer substrates. It opens up the opportunity to improve nanofabrication and tailoring of metal-polymer nanostructures for optoelectronic applications, organic photovoltaics, and plasmonic-enhanced technologies.

Patterned Diblock Co-Polymer Thin Films as Templates for Advanced Anisotropic Metal Nanostructures

We demonstrate glancing-angle deposition of gold on a nanostructured diblock copolymer, namely polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) thin film. Exploiting the selective wetting of gold on the polystyrene block, we are able to fabricate directional hierarchical structures. We prove the asymmetric growth of the gold nanoparticles and are able to extract the different growth laws by in situ scattering methods. The optical anisotropy of these hierarchical hybrid materials is further probed by angular resolved spectroscopic methods. This approach enables us to tailor functional hierarchical layers in nanodevices, such as nanoantennae arrays, organic photovoltaics, and sensor electronics.

Stability of ultrathin nanocomposite polymer films controlled by the embedding of gold nanoparticles

Thin and ultrathin polymer films combined with nanoparticles (NPs) are of significant interest as they are used in a host of industrial applications. In this paper we describe the stability of such films (hpoly ≤ 30 nm) to dewetting, specifically, how the development of a spinodal instability in a composite NP-polymer layer is controlled by the embedding of Au NPs. At working temperatures (T = 170 °C) above the polymer glass transition temperature (Tg ≈ 100 °C) the absence of Au NPs leads to film rupture by nucleation dewetting, while their presence over a large surface area enhances the development of a spinodal instability without destroying the film continuity. When the NPs embed, the surface undulations are suppressed. The dynamics change from an unstable to a stable state, and the thin composite NP-polymer layer returns to a flat configuration, while the wavelength of the pattern remains constant. Moreover, we demonstrate from a thermodynamic perspective that NPs will remain on the surface or embed in the polymer film depending on their free energy, which is determined by the NP interactions with the underlying polymer, the native SiOx layer, and the Si substrate.

Optimizing vanadium pentoxide thin films and multilayers from dip-coated nanofluid precursors

Using an alkoxide-based precursor, a strategy for producing highly uniform thin films and multilayers of V2O5 is demonstrated using dip coating. Defect-free and smooth films of V2O5 on different surfaces can be deposited from liquid precursors. We show how pinholes are formed due to heterogeneous nucleation during hydrolysis as the precursor forms a nanofluid. Using knowledge of instability formation often found in composite nanofluid films and the influence of cluster formation on the stability of these films, we show how polymer-precursor mixtures provide optimum uniformity and very low surface roughness in amorphous V2O5 and also orthorhombic V2O5 after crystallization by heating. Pinhole and roughness instability formation during the liquid stage of the nanofluid on gold and ITO substrates is suppressed giving a uniform coating. Practically, understanding evolution pathways that involve dewetting processes, nucleation, decomposition, or hydrolysis in complex nanofluids provides a route for improved uniformity of thin films. The method could be extended to improve the consistency in sequential or iterative multilayer deposits of a range of liquid precursors for functional materials and coatings.

Solid state pathways to complex shape evolution and tunable porosity during metallic crystal growth

Growing complex metallic crystals, supported high index facet nanocrystal composites and tunable porosity metals, and exploiting factors that influence shape and morphology is crucial in many exciting developments in chemistry, catalysis, biotechnology and nanoscience. Assembly, organization and ordered crystallization of nanostructures into complex shapes requires understanding of the building blocks and their association, and this relationship can define the many physical properties of crystals and their assemblies. Understanding crystal evolution pathways is required for controlled deposition onto surfaces. Here, complex metallic crystals on the nano- and microscale, carbon supported nanoparticles, and spinodal porous noble metals with defined inter-feature distances in 3D, are accomplished in the solid-state for Au, Ag, Pd, and Re. Bottom-up growth and positioning is possible through competitive coarsening of mobile nanoparticles and their site-specific crystallization in a nucleation-dewetted matrix. Shape evolution, density and growth mechanism of complex metallic crystals and porous metals can be imaged during growth.

Fractal patterning of nanoparticles on polymer films and their SERS capabilities

We demonstrate control, via electro-hydrodynamic (EHD) induced polymer instabilities and nanoparticle mobility, of hierarchical fractal arrangements of gold nanoparticles on patterned thin polymer films. The induced changes in the film curvature enhance fractal formation for high and not for low mobility nanoparticles. The high mobility nanoparticles cluster in circular fractal networks on the rims of a hexagonally ordered array of EHD-induced polymer peaks. These arrangements exhibit plasmonic properties for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy.