Nanocomposite silica/polyamine films prepared by a reactive layer-by-layer deposition.
Composite material nanofilms of controlled thickness constituted by ceramics and polymers find more and more applications to improve the properties and functionalities of material surfaces. In this paper we present a new way to deposit such composite coatings by alternated contacts of a surface with a polyamine solution (either poly(allylamine), poly(ethyleneimine), poly-l-lysine, or poly(diallydimethylammonium)chloride and silicic acid. The experiments are mainly realized by spraying of solutions onto the surface. The polyamines deposited in the first spraying step catalyze silica formation upon further spraying of a silicic acid-containing solution. The film thickness increases linearly with the number of deposition steps, the thickness increment being of the order of a few nanometers per silicic acid/polyamine layer. Infrared spectroscopy in the total attenuated reflection mode reveals spectra that are close to those of pure silica particles. The film morphology is further investigated by means of atomic force microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy. This reactive layer-by-layer deposition constitutes a new way to build, in an easy way, nanocomposite coatings with precise control of their thickness.
Laugel
Nicolas
N
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Propre de recherche 22, Institut Charles Sadron, 6 rue Boussingault, 67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
Hemmerlé
Joseph
J
Porcel
Claudine
C
Voegel
Jean-Claude
JC
Schaaf
Pierre
P
Ball
Vincent
V
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011073:Polyamines; D012822:Silicon Dioxide