Graphene Oxide Langmuir Blodgett (GO-LB) Functional Thin Films
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
EPSRC : Nouf Zaghloul : EP/L016648/1
Conjugated polymers can potentially provide flexible and lightweight conductors and semiconductors that can be used in wearable electronics. Polymer-based materials are highly desirable due to their attractive properties such as intrinsic flexibility and electronic tunability. Among these polymers, polyaniline (PAni) is particularly unique due to its readily controlled doping level by simple redox processes, or the addition of acid or base for doping and de-doping processes, respectively. When nanostructured, PAni (such as nanowires, nanofibers, and nanorods) displays enhanced performance due to its high surface area to volume ratio. The interfacial area between the PAni and its environment is significantly increased, and this is particularly useful in applications such as sensors. Compared to its bulk form, nanostructured PAni displays faster response time and improved sensitivity due to the increased surface area, and target molecules can be sensed at low penetration depths. However, due to the lack of facile and reliable methods for making high-quality conducting and semiconducting polymer nanostructures and thin films, these properties have not yet been widely exploited.
One of the techniques recognised as providing significant control for film deposition since the 1920s is the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method, which can deliver films that are one molecular layer thick. This technique has been increasingly used to deposit various nanomaterials including PAni, PAni nanocomposites, graphene, and graphene oxide onto a wide array of substrates. These materials have potential use in a broad range of applications, including flexible and/or transparent electronic devices.
The aim of this project is to utilize the Langmuir Blodgett (LB) deposition technique at the University of Waterloo to form uniform thin films layers of PAni nanocomposites layers. Successful production of thin film PAni nanofibers will allow research into laser writing and the fabrication and testing of simple proof-of-principle flexible sensor devices. This will facilitate the development of a direct patterning method for producing high-resolution features, that is both simple and inexpensive, and, realization of a new class of polymer printed devices and soft robotics.
Conjugated polymers can potentially provide flexible and lightweight conductors and semiconductors that can be used in wearable electronics. Polymer-based materials are highly desirable due to their attractive properties such as intrinsic flexibility and electronic tunability. Among these polymers, polyaniline (PAni) is particularly unique due to its readily controlled doping level by simple redox processes, or the addition of acid or base for doping and de-doping processes, respectively. When nanostructured, PAni (such as nanowires, nanofibers, and nanorods) displays enhanced performance due to its high surface area to volume ratio. The interfacial area between the PAni and its environment is significantly increased, and this is particularly useful in applications such as sensors. Compared to its bulk form, nanostructured PAni displays faster response time and improved sensitivity due to the increased surface area, and target molecules can be sensed at low penetration depths. However, due to the lack of facile and reliable methods for making high-quality conducting and semiconducting polymer nanostructures and thin films, these properties have not yet been widely exploited.
One of the techniques recognised as providing significant control for film deposition since the 1920s is the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method, which can deliver films that are one molecular layer thick. This technique has been increasingly used to deposit various nanomaterials including PAni, PAni nanocomposites, graphene, and graphene oxide onto a wide array of substrates. These materials have potential use in a broad range of applications, including flexible and/or transparent electronic devices.
The aim of this project is to utilize the Langmuir Blodgett (LB) deposition technique at the University of Waterloo to form uniform thin films layers of PAni nanocomposites layers. Successful production of thin film PAni nanofibers will allow research into laser writing and the fabrication and testing of simple proof-of-principle flexible sensor devices. This will facilitate the development of a direct patterning method for producing high-resolution features, that is both simple and inexpensive, and, realization of a new class of polymer printed devices and soft robotics.
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ORCID iD |
| Charles Faul (Principal Investigator) |