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Swelling and Contraction of Ferrocyanide-Containing Polyelectrolyte Multilayers upon Application of an Electric Potential

Year: 2008

Journal: Langmuir, 2008, 24 (23), 13668-13676, 20101203

Authors: Grieshaber D. †, Vörös J. †, Zambelli T. †, Ball V. ‡§, Schaaf P. |⊥, Voegel J-C. ‡§, Boulmedais F. *|

Last authors: Fouzia Boulmedai

Organizations: ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Gloriastrasse 35, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland, Institut National de la Sante´ et de la Recherche Me´dicale, Unite´ 595, 11 rue Humann, 67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France, UniVersite´ Louis Pasteur, Faculte´ deChirurgie Dentaire, 1 place de l'Hoˆpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UPR 22, Institut Charles Sadron, 23 rue du Loess, BP 84047, 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France, and UniVersite´ Louis Pasteur, ECPM, 25 rue Becquerel,67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France

Country: France

We developed a new platform at the interface of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) and electroactive polymers (EAPs) by combining the easy buildup of PEM thin films and the deformation characteristics of the EAPs. The PEM films were made of poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). After [Fe(CN)6]4 - ions(FCIV) were added, cyclic voltammetry (CV) was performed, resulting in a reversible expansion and contraction of the film. The shape change as well as the film buildup prior to the cycling were monitored in situ using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EC-QCM-D). Electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) images confirmed the rapid shape deformation. The process takes place in an aqueous environment under mild conditions (maximum potential of 600 mV and no pH change), which makes it a promising tool for biomedical applications. In addition, the electrochemically active films are produced using the layer-by-layer (LbL) method that is already established in biotechnology and biomaterials science; therefore, the presented approach can be readily adapted in these areas, bringing about a new possibility for the nanoscale dynamic control of coating thickness in various applications.