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Atomic Force Microscopy Nanomechanics of Hard Nanometer-Thick Films on Soft Substrates: Insights into Stretchable Conductors.

ABSTRACT: The nanomechanical properties of ultrathin and nanostructured films of rigid electronic materials on soft substrates are of crucial relevance to realize materials and devices for stretchable electronics. Of particular interest are bending deformations in buckled nanometer-thick films or patterned networks of rigid materials as they can be exploited to compensate for the missing tensile elasticity. Here, we perform atomic force microscopy indentation experiments and electrical measurements to characterize the nanomechanics of ultrathin gold films on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer. The measured force-indentation data can be analyzed in terms of a simple analytical model describing a bending plate on a semi-infinite soft substrate. The resulting method enables us to quantify the local Young's modulus of elasticity of the nanometer-thick film. Systematic variation of the gold layer thickness reveals the presence of a diffuse interface between the metal film and the elastomer substrate that does not contribute to the bending stiffness. The effect is associated with gold clusters that penetrate the silicone and are not directly connected to the ultrathin film. Only above a critical layer thickness, percolation of the metallic thin film happens, causing a linear increase in bending stiffness and electrical conductivity.

SUBMITTER: Cortelli G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8411650 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The present research reports on in-water, site-specific photodeposition of glyphosate (GLP)-containing polyacrylamide (PAA-GLP) nanometer-thick films (nanofilms) on an inner surface of fused silica (fused quartz) microcapillaries presilanized with trimethoxy(octen-7-yl)silane (TMOS). TMOS was chosen because of the vinyl group presence in its structure, enabling its participation in the (UV light)-activated free-radical polymerization (UV-FRP) after its immobilization on a fused silica surface. The photodeposition was conducted in an aqueous (H2O/ACN; 3:1, v/v) solution, using UV-FRP (λ = 365 nm) of the acrylamide (AA) functional monomer, the N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BAA) cross-linking monomer, GLP, and the azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) UV-FRP initiator. Acetonitrile (ACN) was used as the porogen and the solvent to dissolve monomers and GLP. Because of the micrometric diameters of microcapillaries, the silanization and photodeposition procedures were first optimized on fused silica slides. The introduction of TMOS, as well as the formation of PAA and PAA-GLP nanofilms, was determined using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) spectroscopy, and confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy. Particularly, AFM and SEM-EDX measurements determined nanofilms' thickness and GLP content, respectively, whereas in-depth confocal (micro-Raman spectroscopy)-assisted imaging of PAA- and PAA-GLP-coated microcapillary inner surfaces confirmed the successful photodeposition. Moreover, we examined the GLP impact on polymer gelation by monitoring hydration in a hydrogel and a dried powder PAA-GLP. Our study demonstrated the usefulness of the in-capillary micro-Raman spectroscopy imaging and in-depth profiling of GLP-encapsulated PAA nanofilms. In the future, our simple and inexpensive procedure will enable the fabrication of polymer-based microfluidic chemosensors or adsorptive-separating devices for GLP detection, determination, and degradation.

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Atomic Force Microscopy Nanomechanics of Hard Nanometer-Thick Films on Soft Substrates: Insights into Stretchable Conductors.

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