title: Characterization of thin polymer and biopolymer layers by ellipsometry and evanescent field technology.
abstract: The characterization of sensitive layers is the prerequisite for the optimization of chemical and biochemical sensors. The application of SE (Spectral Ellipsometry) and SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) as methods of characterization of such sensitive layers is discussed. In combination with infrared spectroscopy, the properties of polymer networks, micro-porous polymers, liquid crystals, and biomimetic polymers can be examined regarding their applicability for optical sensing. Apart from the basic principles regarding the characterization approaches, applications in the area of environmental sensing, optimization of hydrogel layers for antigen/antibody interaction, and discrimination of analytes in homologous series of alcohols are discussed. The effects of analytes on the phase transition in combination with disordering of liquid crystals are given.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Theoretical and Physical Chemistry, Eberhard-Karls-University, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mutschler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kieser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gauglitz
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000592:standards; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D011108:Polymers