Gold nanoholes fabricated by colloidal lithography: novel insights into nanofabrication, short-range correlation and optical properties

Colloidal lithography is widely used as a low cost and large-area deposition approach, alternative to the conventional small-area expensive lithographic techniques, for the fabrication of short-range ordered sub-wavelength metallic nanostructures. This paper contributes to the understanding of the impact of the fabrication protocol of a colloidal mask on the optical and sensing properties of short range-ordered nanohole (NH) distributions fabricated by colloidal lithography in optically thin (20 nm thick) gold films. We consider polystyrene nanospheres (PS-NSPs) with a nominal diameter of 80 nm, electrostatically adsorbed from a salt-free colloidal solution onto a polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA) countercharged monolayer. By avoiding the conventional polyelectrolyte multilayer and based on the interplay between the deposition times of both PDDA and PS-NSPs, we demonstrate effective simplification of the commonly applied deposition protocol and effective tuning of the NH-to-NH spacing (dNN) with negligible agglomeration. Comparison with NH samples prepared by salt-containing colloidal solutions points out the negative impact of salt addition on the optical properties. The effective tuning of dNN obtained by our protocol demonstrates highly correlated disorder under unsaturated adsorption and allows a discussion on the analogies of the optical response between long- and short- range ordered NH systems, which is a still debated topic. By Fast Fourier Transform of autocorrelation images of scanning electron microscopy micrographs we demonstrate quantitatively, rather than in principle, the correspondence between an inherent ordering length-scale and dNN. As optical transducers for detecting refractive index changes, our samples exhibit significant bulk sensitivity (∼309 nm RIU-1) in the framework of short range ordered NH systems.

C3-C3' and C6-C6' Oxidative Couplings of Carbazoles

9-Substituted carbazoles are widely used units in materials science, and their oxidative reactions have been utilized for the synthesis and characterization of polymers. Though the oxidative mechanism of carbazoles has been known for a few decades, structural definition has remained difficult, because their polymers are generally insoluble with incomplete characterization and unknown dependence of the electrochemical potentials. The oxidative reactions of 9-substituted carbazoles should be carefully considered under specific oxidative conditions; otherwise, structure definitions could be wrong, because the IR and NMR spectra used previously cannot quantitatively analyze 3,3'-coupling and 6,6'-coupling of carbazoles. In this review, the best understanding of the C3-C3' and C6-C6' oxidative couplings of 9-substituted carbazoles is presented, and the benefit of these oxidative reactions from the viewpoints of electrochemical synthesis, film engineering, and the synthesis and processing of polymers is highlighted.

Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Alcohols, Tripropylamine, and DNA with Ligand-Free Gold Nanoclusters on Nitrided Carbon

Electrocatalytic properties of ligand-free gold nanoclusters (AuNCs, <2 nm) grown on nitrided carbon supports (denoted as AuNCs@N-C) were evaluated for the oxidation of representative organic molecules including alcohols, an amine, and deoxyguanosine in oligonucleotides. AuNCs@N-C catalysts were incorporated into films of architecture {PDDA/AuNCs@N-C} _n by using layer-by-layer assembly with oppositely charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium) (PDDA) on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to survey the electrocatalytic properties of these AuNCs@N-C films. Ligand-free AuNCs in these films demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic oxidation activity with maximum peak currents and the lowest potentials for oxidizing ethanol, propanol, and tripropylamine (TprA) compared to controls with Au-surface capping agents or to larger sized Au nanocrystals on the nitrided carbon supports. EIS kinetic studies showed that ligand-free AuNCs films have the smallest charge-transfer resistance, largest electrochemically active surface area, and largest apparent standard rate constants, as compared to the control films for all compounds examined. DNA films on AuNCs@N-C were oxidized at deoxyguanosine moieties with good catalytic activity that depended on charge transport within the films.

Fabrication and Characterization of Self-Assembled Nanoparticle/Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films

The formation of multilayer films of organothiol-stabilized gold nanoparticles and polyelectrolyte, synthesized using the "layer-by-layer" technique, has been investigated. The formation of such films requires the alternation of surface charge with each layer deposited and is thus amenable to study by the Kelvin probe technique. The early stages of multilayer film formation have been studied using a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and Kelvin probe microscopy. Our results suggest that the polyelectrolyte/nanoparticle film can be considered as a wide-band-gap semiconductor with a depletion width, at the substrate/film interface, extending several nanometers into the film. From our ellipsometry data, we are able to provide optical constants for these hybrid organic/inorganic films.

Layer-by-layer-assembled high-performance broadband antireflection coatings

Nanoparticles are indispensable ingredients of solution-processed optical, dielectric, and catalytic thin films. Although solution-based methods are promising low-cost alternatives to vacuum methods, they can have significant limitations. Coating uniformity, thickness control, roughness control, mechanical durability, and incorporation of a diverse set of functional organic molecules into nanoparticle thin films are major challenges. We have used the electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly technique to make uniform, conformal multistack nanoparticle thin films for optical applications with precise thickness control over each stack. Two particularly sought-after optical applications are broadband antireflection and structural color. The effects of interstack and surface roughness on optical properties of these constructs (e.g., haze and spectral response) have been studied quantitatively using a combination of Fourier-transform methods and atomic force microscopy measurements. Deconvoluting root-mean-square roughness into its large-, intermediate-, and small-scale components enables enhanced optical simulations. A 4-stack broadband antireflection coating (<0.5% average reflectance in the visible range, and 0.2% haze) composed of alternating high-index (n approximately 1.96) and low-index (n approximately 1.28) stacks has been made on glass substrate. Films calcinated at 550 degrees C endure a one-hour-long cloth cleaning test under 100 kPa normal stress.

Targeted functionalization of nanoparticle thin films via capillary condensation

Capillary condensation, an often undesired natural phenomenon in nanoporous materials, was used advantageously as a universal functionalization strategy in nanoparticle thin films assembled layer-by-layer. Judicious choice of nanoparticle (and therefore pore) size allowed targeted capillary condensation of chemical vapors of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules across film thickness. Heterostructured thin films with modulated refractive index profiles produced in this manner exhibited broadband antireflection properties with an average reflectance over the visible region of the spectrum of only 0.4%. Capillary condensation was also used to modify surface chemistry and surface energy. Photosensitive capillary-condensates were UV-cross-linked in situ. Undesired adventitious condensation of humidity could be avoided by condensation of hydrophobic materials such as poly(dimethyl siloxane).

Layer-by-layer assembly as a versatile bottom-up nanofabrication technique for exploratory research and realistic application

The layer-by-layer (LbL) adsorption technique offers an easy and inexpensive process for multilayer formation and allows a variety of materials to be incorporated within the film structures. Therefore, the LbL assembly method can be regarded as a versatile bottom-up nanofabrication technique. Research fields concerned with LbL assembly have developed rapidly but some important physicochemical aspects remain uninvestigated. In this review, we will introduce several examples from physicochemical investigations regarding the basics of this method to advanced research aimed at practical applications. These are selected mostly from recent reports and should stimulate many physical chemists and chemical physicists in the further development of LbL assembly. In order to further understand the mechanism of the LbL assembly process, theoretical work, including thermodynamics calculations, has been conducted. Additionally, the use of molecular dynamics simulation has been proposed. Recently, many kinds of physicochemical molecular interactions, including hydrogen bonding, charge transfer interactions, and stereo-complex formation, have been used. The combination of the LbL method with other fabrication techniques such as spin-coating, spraying, and photolithography has also been extensively researched. These improvements have enabled preparation of LbL films composed of various materials contained in well-designed nanostructures. The resulting structures can be used to investigate basic physicochemical phenomena where relative distances between interacting groups is of great importance. Similarly, LbL structures prepared by such advanced techniques are used widely for development of functional systems for physical applications from photovoltaic devices and field effect transistors to biochemical applications including nano-sized reactors and drug delivery systems.

Investigation of Nonisothermal Crystallization Behaviors of Poly and Silica Nanocomposites Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Nonisothermal crystallization behaviors of PVA and poly (vinyl alcohol) and Silica (PVA/SiO2) nanocomposites prepared via a self-assembly monolayer (SAM) technique are investigated in this study. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to measure the crystallization temperature and enthalpy of PVA and nanocomposites in nitrogen at various cooling rate. The results show that the degree of crystallinity of PVA and nanocomposites decreases when the SiO2 content increases but increases with an increasing cooling rate. The peak crystallization temperature decreases with an increasing cooling rate.

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

An ultrathin composite film containing anionic Ag-His complexes (His: L-Histidine) and oppositely charged BH-PPV was fabricated by means of the electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. UV/Vis spectra showed a continuous deposition process of Ag-His complexes and BH-PPV. The film structure was characterized by using small-angle X-ray diffraction, AFM, and SEM. The nonlinear optical properties of the ultrathin film were studied by using the Z-scan technique with a laser duration of 8 ns at a wavelength of 532 nm. The film sample exhibited a strong nonlinear saturated absorption, with an alpha2 value of -3.9 x 10(-5) mW(-1) and a self-defocusing effect with an n2 value of -4.78 x 10 (-12) m2W(-1).

Preparation of Thin Silica Films with Controlled Thickness and Tunable Refractive Index

Silica films with controlled thickness and refractive index have been formed by the sequential adsorption of a cationic polyelectrolyte and silica sols. The conditions used to prepare the sol were varied, and allowed films with refractive indices as low as 1.16 to be obtained. The sequential adsorption technique allows the thickness of these films to be controlled in increments of 5-10 nm, depending on the desired refractive index. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that a low packing density of constituent silica particles was responsible for the low indices of these films. The as-adsorbed films are thermally robust; calcination at 500 degrees C resulted in only very small decreases in film thickness (by < or =1.8%) and refractive index (to as low as 1.14). After calcination, the silica films remained hydrophilic and sorbed water vapor from the atmosphere. As a result, the refractive indices of these films increased with increasing relative humidity (RH). The dependence of the refractive index on RH was eliminated by treating the calcined films with trimethylchlorosilane.

Formation and structure of polyelectrolyte and nanoparticle multilayers: effect of particle characteristics

The formation and structure of multilayer films containing a cationic polyelectrolyte and anionic silica nanoparticles were studied by means of ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. Three types of silica particles of different sizes were examined. The density and thickness of the films as well as the adsorption kinetics appear to be strongly dependent on the choice of particle; smaller particles favor the formation of smooth and dense films with a higher content of the inorganic component.

Oligosilsesquioxanes as versatile building blocks for the preparation of self-assembled thin films

A self-assembly approach to the preparation of nanocomposite siliceous thin films by using oligosilsesquioxanes as building blocks is presented. Poly(styrene-4-sulfonate), PSS, and octa(3-aminopropyl)silsesquioxane, NSi8, were layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled onto planar substrates and polystyrene (PS) particles, thus forming composite multilayers. We have clarified the binding properties of NSi8 to PSS by examining the pH influence on film buildup by microelectrophoresis (zeta-potential) and quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM). The regular growth of PSS/NSi8 multilayers on planar supports was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and QCM. By applying the LbL coating procedure to spherical templates, we prepared compact, microporous hollow silica spheres by calcining PS spheres coated with (poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/PSS)(2)/(NSi8/PSS)(n) (n varying from 3 to 12), at 750 degrees C, because of sintering of the octameric clusters (NSi8). Hollow spheres derived from coatings with n = 3 drastically altered in size (relative to the template core), depending on the size of the PS particles used. The novelty of this method for the nanofabrication of siliceous films stems from the use of well-defined and discrete building blocks, such as NSi8, leading to homogeneous organic-silica composite films as well as individual siliceous particles of variable size and shape.