title: Study of optical properties of electropolymerized melanin films by photopyroelectric spectroscopy.
abstract: Photopyroelectric (PPE) spectroscopy, in the 350-1,075 nm wavelength range, was used to study the optical properties of electropolymerized melanin films on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass. The PPE intensity signal as a function of the wavelength lambda, V (n)(lambda) and its phase F (n)(lambda) were independently measured. Using the PPE signal intensity and the thermal and optical properties of the pyroelectric detector, we were able to calculate the optical absorption coefficient beta of melanin in the solid-state. We believe this to be the first such measurement of its kind on this material. Additionally, we found an optical gap in these melanin films at 1.70 eV.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36571-000, Brazil. jeduardo@ufv.br
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giacomantonio
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meredith
mesh_terms: D019281:Dimerization; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004735:Energy Transfer; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008027:Light; D008543:Melanins / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D011108:Polymers