Nonlinear Optical Properties of AI-Doped nc-Si-SiO_2 Composite Films

The nonlinear optical properties of Al-doped nc-Si-SiO_2 composite films have been investigated using the time-resolved four-wave mixing technique with a femtosecond laser. The off-resonant third-order nonlinear susceptibility is observed to be 1.0 × 10~(-10) esu at 800nm. The relaxation time of the optical nonlinearity in the films is as short as 60fs. The optical nonlinearity is enhanced due to the quantum confinement of electrons in Si nanocrystals embedded in the SiO_2 films. The enhanced optical nonlinearity does not originate from Al dopant because there are no Al clusters in the films.

Excellent antimicrobial properties of mesoporous anatase TiO2 and Ag/TiO2 composite films

Optically transparent, crack-free, mesoporous anatase TiO2 thin films were fabricated. The Ag/TiO2 composite films were prepared by incorporating Ag in the pores of TiO2 films with an impregnation method via photoreduction. The as-prepared composite films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectronic spectra (XPS) and N-2 adsorption. The release behavior of silver ions in the mesoporous composite film was also studied. Moreover, the antimicrobial behaviors of the mesoporous film were also investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

In-situ fabrication of hybrid polyoxometalate nanoparticles composite films

inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles multilayer films were fabricated by extending the method of nucleation and growth of particles in polymer assemblies. The polyelectrolyte matrix was constructed by layer-by-layer self-assembly method. Synthesis of polyoxometalate nanoparticles was achieved by alternately dipping the precursor polyelectrolyte matrix into AgNO3 and H4SiW12O40 aqueous solutions. Repeating the above synthesis process, Ag4SiW12O40 nanoparticles with controllable diameters of 20 to 77 nm were synthesized in the multilayer films in-situ. UV-vis absorption spectra indicate that the nanoparticles grew gradually in the synthesis process. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the size and morphology of the nanoparticles.

Electrogenerated chemi luminescence from Ru(BPY)(3)(2+) ion-exchanged in carbon nanotube/perfluorosulfonated ionomer composite films

The electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) ion-exchanged in carbon nanotube (CNT)/Nafion composite films were investigated with tripropylamine (TPA) as a coreactant at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The major goal of this work was to investigate and develop new materials and immobilization approaches for the fabrication of ECL-based sensors with improved sensitivity, reactivity, and long-term stability. Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) could be strongly incorporated into Nafion film, but the rate of charge transfer was relative slow and its stability was also problematic. The interfusion of CNT in Nafion resulted in a high peak current of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and high ECL intensity. The results indicated that the composite film had more open structures and a larger surface area allowing faster diffusion of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and that the CNT could adsorb Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and also acted as conducting pathways to connect Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) sites to the electrode. In the present work, the sensitivity of the ECL system at the CNT/Nafion film-modified electrodes was more than 2 orders of magnitude higher than that observed at a silica/Nafion composite film-modified electrode and 3 orders of magnitude higher than that at pure Nafion films.

Preparation and properties of ternary polyimide/SiO2/polydiphenyisiloxane composite films

A series of novel ternary polyimide/SiO2/polydiphenylsiloxane (PI/SiO2/PDPhS) composite films were prepared through co-hydrolysis and condensation between tetramethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane (DDS) and aminopropyltriethoxysilane-terminated polyamic acid, using an in situ sol-gel method. The composite films exhibited good optical transparency up to 30 wt% of total content of DDS and SiO2. SEM analysis showed that the PDPhS and SiO2 were well dispersed in the PI matrix without macroscopic separation of the composite films. TGA analysis indicated that the introduction of SiO2 could improve the thermal stability of the composite films. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed that the composite films with low DDS content (5 wt%) had a higher glass transition temperature (T-g) than pure PI matrix. When the content of DDS was above 10 wt%, the T-g of the composite decreased slightly due to the plasticizing effect of flexible PDPhS linkages on the rigid PI chains. The composite films with high SiO2 content exhibited higher values of storage modulus. Tensile measurements also showed that the modulus and tensile strength of the composite films increased with increasing SiO2 content, and the composite films still retained a high elongation at break due the introduction of DDS.

Microstructure and properties of new polyimide/polysiloxane composite films

A series of novel polyimide/polydiphenylsiloxane) (PI/PDDS) composite films with different contents of DDS were prepared using sol-gel method. The noncrosslinked PI-DDS and crosslinked PIS-DDS were synthesized through cohydrolysis and condensation between DDS and polyamic acid (PAA) or aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTES)-terminated polyamic acid (PAAS). All the composite films have high thermal stability near pure PI. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) study shows that the polysiloxane from hydrolyzed DDS well dispersed in polyimide matrix, without macroscopic separation for the composite films with low content of DDS, while large domain of polysiloxane was formed in films with high DDS content. The microstructure of composite films is in accordance with the transparency of corresponding films. X-ray study shows the PDDS is amorphous in PI matrix. The introduction of DDS into PI can improve the elongation at break and at the same time, the composite films still remained with higher modulus and tensile strength. The density and water absorption of the composite films decreased with the increasing DDS content. The composite films with DDS content below 10 wt % exhibit good solvent resistance.

Morphology and thermal properties of conductive polyaniline/polyamide composite films

Polyaniline (PANI) in an emeraldine-base form, synthesized by chemical oxidation polymerization, was doped with camphor sulfonic acid (CSA). The conducting complex (PANI-CSA) and a matrix, polyamide-66, polyamide-11, or polyamide-1010, were dissolved in a mixed solvent, and the blend solution was dropped onto glass and dried for the preparation of PANI/polyamide composite films. The conductivity of the films ranged from 10(-7) to 10(0) S/cm when the weight fraction of PANI-CSA in the matrices changed from 0.01 to 0.09, and the percolation threshold was about 2 wt %. The morphology of the composite films before and after etching was studied with scanning electron microscopy, and the thermal properties of the composite films were monitored with differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated that the morphology of the blend systems was in a globular form. The addition of PANI-CSA to the films resulted in a decrease in the melting temperature of the composite films and also affected the crystallinity of the blend systems.

Preparation and nonlinear optical properties of ultrathin composite films containing both a polyoxometalate anion and a binuclear phthalocyanine

An ultrathin composite film containing both polyoxometalate anion [PMo12O40](3-) ( PMo12) and a planar binuclear phthalocyanine, bi-CoPc, has been prepared by the electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly method. UV-vis measurements revealed regular film growth with each four-layer {PMo12/bi-CoPc/PSS/PAH} adsorption. The lm structure was characterized by small-angle X-ray reflectivity measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and AFM images. The nanothick film shows a third-order nonlinear optical response of chi((3)) = 4.21 x 10(-12) esu. Experimental investigations also indicate that the combination of polyoxometalate anions [PMo12O40](3-) with the phthalocyanine bi-CoPc in multilayer films can enhance the third-order NLO susceptibility and modify the third-order NLO absorption of bi-CoPc.

Photoluminescent organic-inorganic composite films layer-by-layer self-assembled from the rare-earth-containing polyoxometalate Na-9[EuW10O36] and poly(allylamine hydrochloride)

Photoluminescent organic-inorganic composite films incorporating the rare-earth-containing polyoxometalate Na-9[EuW10O36] (EW) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) have been prepared by the layer-by-layer self-assembly method. UV-vis spectroscopy and ellipsometry were used to follow the fabrication process of the EW/PAH composite films. The experimental results show that the deposition process is linear and highly reproducible from layer to layer. An average EW/PAH bilayer thickness of ca. 2.1 nm was determined by ellipsometry. In addition, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images of the EW/PAH composite films indicate that the film surface is relatively uniform and smooth. The photoluminescent properties of these films were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Electrochemiluminescence of tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) ion-exchanged in polyelectrolyte-silica composite thin-films

The organic-inorganic hybrid, PSS-silica composite material was developed for the immobilization of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) on glassy carbon electrode via ion-exchange (PSS stands for poly(sodium 4-styrene-sulfonate)). The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and electrochemistry of Ru(bpy)(3)(2-) immobilized in the composite thin films have been investigated with tripropylamine (TPA) as the coreactant. The immobilized Ru(bpy)(3)(2-) underwent a surface process. The modified electrode was used for the ECL detection of TPA and showed high sensitivity. Detection limit was 0,1 mumol L-1 for TPA (S/N = 3) with a linear range from 0.5 mumol L-1 to 5 mmol L-1 (R = 0.998), Moreover, the resulting modified electrode was stable over six months and the good stability may be due to the strong interaction between Ru(bpy)(3)(2-) and the high ion-exchange able PSS-silica composite films on GCE. Compared with other materials. the PSS-silica composite films containing incorporated Ru(bpy)(3)(2-) showed improved sensitivity and long-term stability, Thus, such composite thin film can be a promising material for the construction of ECL sensor.

Gas sensitivity of composite Langmuir-Blodgett films of Fe2O3 nanoparticle-copper phthalocyanine

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) composite films, ferric oxide nanoparticle composite with tris-(2,3-di-t-amylphenoxy)-(8-quinolinolinolyl) copper phthalocyanine (CuPcA(2)), were obtained by capped type and alternated type and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and visible spectra. The gas sensitivity of the composite films and the pure ferric oxide and pure CuPcA(2) LB films to ammonia and ethanol were measured at room temperature. The composite films could be used as the C2H5OH sensors in the range of 2-8 or 100-200 ppm. The XPS data suggested that the adduct complex NH3-CuPcA(2) was formed after the capped film was exposed to the detected gas of ammonia. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemiluminescence of tris(2,2 '-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) immobilized in poly(p-styrenesulfonate)-silica-Triton X-100 composite thin-films

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(ii) [Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)] immobilized in poly(p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS)-silica-Triton X-100 composite films was investigated. The cooperative action of PSS, sol-gel and Triton X-100 attached Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to the electrode strongly, and the presence of Triton X-100 prevented drying fractures of the sol-gel films during gelation and even on repeated wet-dry cycles. The modified electrode was used for the ECL detection of oxalate, tripropylamine (TPA) and NADH in a flow injection analysis (FIA) system with a newly designed flow cell. The detection scheme exhibited good stability, short response time and high sensitivity. Detection limits were 0.1, 0.1 and 0.5 mu mol L-1 for oxalate, TPA and NADH, respectively, and the linear concentration range extended from 0.001 to 1 mmol L-1 for the three analytes. Applications of the flow cell in ECL and electrochemical detection, as well as the immobilization of reagents based on the cooperative action, are suggested.

Study on the self-packing of SnO2 nanoparticles at the air-hydrosol interface and its composite LB films with arachidic acid

SnO2 nanoparticles were found to self-pack at the air-hydrosol interface and form a nanoparticulate film. The self-packed films were observed under a Brewster angle microscope, and investigated by recording the time evolution of surface pressure and pi-A isotherms. The results show that SnO2 nanoparticles take 3 h to form a complete film at the air-hydrosol interface. Composite monolayers of SnO2 and arachidic acid were obtained by spreading arachidic acid onto a fresh hydrosol surface. Composite Y-type LB films were transferred from the air-hydrosol interface onto substrates, and characterized by FTIR, UV-vis, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and TEM techniques. The results show that the composite films have good structure, with SnO2 nanoparticles uniformly and compactly distributed in the arachidate matrix. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Photoluminescence and transmission spectra of nanocrystalline GaAs1-xSbx embedded in silica films

The composite films of the nanocrystalline GaAs1-xSbx-SiO2 have been successfully deposited on glass and GaSb substrates by radio frequency magnetron co-sputtering. The 10K photoluminescence (PL) properties of the nanocrystalline GaAs1-xSbx indicated that the PL peaks of the GaAs1-xSbx nanocrystals follow the quantum confinement model very closely. Optical transmittance spectra showed that there is a large blue shift of optical absorption edge in nanocrystalline GaAs1-xSbx-SiO2 composite films, as compared with that of the corresponding bulk semiconductor, which is due to the quantum confinement effect.