Photoswitchable solubility of fullerene-doped polymer thin films
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
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.
Date Issued
2020-09-22
Date Acceptance
2020-08-20
Citation
ACS Nano, 2020, 14 (9), pp.11352-11362
ISSN
1936-0851
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
11352
End Page
11362
Journal / Book Title
ACS Nano
Volume
14
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2020 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in ACS Nano, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03450
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32815708
Subjects
dual tone photolithography
fullerenes
photooxidation
photoswitchable film solubility
polymer thin films
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2020-08-20