Molecular imaging of thermochromic carbohydrate-modified polydiacetylene thin films

Anna Lio, Anke Reichert, Dong June Ahn, Jon O. Nagy, Miquel Salmeron, Deborah H. Charych

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Polymerized thin films based on polydiacetylenes (PDAs) undergo distinct color transitions that lend themselves to applications in biosensing, surface modification, nonlinear optics, and molecular electronics. The mechanism of the thermochromic blue to red color transition of PDA thin films was investigated at the molecular level using atomic force microscopy and at the macroscopic level with visible absorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermochromic transition temperature is found to be between 70 and 90°C. At the molecular level, the ordering of the film increases at the thermochromic transition and remains ordered up to temperatures well above the transition (e.g., 130°C). No evidence for previously suggested entanglement or disordering of the alkyl side chains is observed. The pendant side chains rearrange from a partially disordered configuration characteristic of the blue film, to a well-ordered close-packed hexagonal arrangement in the red form. The rearrangment of the pendant side chains is linked to the formation of the red phase PDA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6524-6532
Number of pages9
JournalLangmuir
Volume13
Issue number24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1997 Nov 26

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Spectroscopy
  • Electrochemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Molecular imaging of thermochromic carbohydrate-modified polydiacetylene thin films'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this