Layer-by-layer introduction of poly(phenylenevinylene) onto microspheres and probing the influence from the weak/strong polyanion spacer-layers.
The layer-by-layer (LBL) technique was employed for preparing fluorescent microspheres with a core-shell structure by the alternating adsorption of positively charged poly(p-phenylenevinylene) precursor (pre-PPV) and the polyanions onto polymer substrate spheres, followed by the thermal elimination to convert pre-PPV into fluorescent poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV). Weak polyelectrolytes poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (usually in a partly ionized form) and strong polyelectrolytes poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) were used as the anions to space the PPV layers and reduce the fluorescence self-quenching. Flow cytometry, combined with spectroscopy and microscopy, were used to study the structure and photophysical properties of the resulting microspheres. Optimization of the processing factors was carried out. PAA and PSS as weak and strong polyelectrolytes, respectively, displayed very different influence on the final emission of the spheres. Such difference was attributed to different inherent characteristics of PAA and PSS after detailed investigation in many aspects. In addition, the fluorescent spheres were found to have excellent photostability and thermal stability.
Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Jing
J
Song
Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Tian
T
Qiu
Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Yun
Y
Chen
Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
Wei
W
Zhang
Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China. Electronic address: ljfan@suda.edu.cn.
Li-Juan
LJ
Fan
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000327:Adsorption; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015335:Molecular Probes; D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C470024:poly(4-phenylenevinylene); C006903:carbopol 940; C077114:styrenesulfonic acid polymer
Flow cytometry; Fluorescence; Layer-by-layer; Microsphere; Poly(p-phenylenevinylene)