"Physico-Chemical nanomaterials science"

Deposition and characterization of multipurpose functional coatings based on PDPA with incorporated AgNPs
Vyshnevska Yu.P.1,2, Brazhnyk I.V.3
1 National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute".
37K20, Peremohy Ave., Kyiv, 03056, Ukraine. 
E-mail: vishnevsk@ukr.net
2 Institute for Renewable Energy
20A, H. Khotkevych str., Kyiv, 02094, Ukraine.
3 Gimasi SA Ukraine R&D Centre
18, Via Luigi Lavizzari, Mendrisio, 6850, Switzerland.

Organic semiconducting materials receiving a constantly growing attention owing to a valuable combination of properties making them excellent basis for functional coatings for a wide range of applications. Of particular interest are hybrid nanostructured materials based on conducting polymers that may be tuned to meet the requirements for organic printable and wearable electronics, electrochemical and optical sensors as well an energy harvesting, conversion and storage devices.
The processes of in situ formation of nanocomposites based on poly(diphenylamine) as a result of oxidative polymerization with Ag/Fe bimetallic system have been investigated. Obtained nanocomposites have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Auger electron spectroscopy in scanning electron microscopy mode, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. Silver nanoparticles are found to be uniformly dispersed in polymeric matrices and mostly spherically shaped with sizes in range 40-50 nm. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy have confirmed the presence of significant portion of the diphenylamine monomers in the PDPA coating obtained with Fe cations as oxidative polymerization catalyst. The results of electrochemical investigation confirmed that synthesized hybrid materials exhibit electrochromic and switchable conductivity properties and showed good stability at room temperature. Single step synthesis provides simple and cost efficient approach for obtaining functional coatings based on nanostructured smart materials for organic semiconducting devices, energy conversion and storage, as well as biological and environmental sensing applications.