In this section
@article{Wong:2020:10.1021/acsnano.0c03450,
author = {Wong, HC and Wang, Q and Speller, EM and Li, Z and Cabral, JT and Low, HY},
doi = {10.1021/acsnano.0c03450},
journal = {ACS Nano},
pages = {11352--11362},
title = {Photoswitchable solubility of fullerene-doped polymer thin films},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c03450},
volume = {14},
year = {2020}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Controlling polymer film solubility is of fundamental and practical interest and is typically achieved by synthetically modifying the polymer structure to insert reactive groups. Here, we demonstrate that the addition of fullerenes or its derivatives (C60 or phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, PCBM) to polymers, followed by ultraviolet (UV) illumination can change the film solubility. Contrary to most synthetic polymers, which dissolve in organic solvents but not in water, the fullerene-doped polymer films (such as polystyrene) can dissolve in water yet remain stable in organic solvents. This photoswitchable solubility effect is not observed in either film constituents individually and is derived from a synergy of photochemistries. First, polymer photooxidation generates macroradicals which cross-link with radical-scavenging PCBM, thereby contributing to the films' insolubility in organic solvents. Second, light exposure enhances polymer photooxidation in the presence of PCBM via the singlet oxygen pathway. This results in polymer backbone scission and formation of photooxidized products which can form hydrogen bonds with water, both contributing to water solubility. Nevertheless, the illuminated doped polymer thin films are mechanically robust, exhibiting significantly increased modulus and density compared to their pristine counterpart, such that they can remain intact even upon sonication in conventional organic solvents. We further demonstrate the application of this solubility-switching effect in dual tone photolithography, via a facile, economical, and environmentally benign solution-processing route made possible by the photoactive nature of polymer-PCBM thin films.
AU - Wong,HC
AU - Wang,Q
AU - Speller,EM
AU - Li,Z
AU - Cabral,JT
AU - Low,HY
DO - 10.1021/acsnano.0c03450
EP - 11362
PY - 2020///
SN - 1936-0851
SP - 11352
TI - Photoswitchable solubility of fullerene-doped polymer thin films
T2 - ACS Nano
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c03450
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32815708
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03450
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/96547
VL - 14
ER -