2 research outputs found
Binary Nanoparticles Coassembly in Bioinspired Block Copolymer Films: A Stepwise Synthesis Approach Using Multifunctional Catechol Groups and Magneto-Optical Properties
The
development of hybrid films containing binary nanoparticles
is one of the current key objectives in nanotechnology. Different
nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix exhibit diverse functions,
and their properties are influenced by the interplay between the nanoparticles.
The polyÂ(vinyl catechol)-<i>block</i>-polystyrene (PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt) block copolymer containing a catechol group, which
is inspired by the adhesive protein found in the mussel foot, is an
attractive platform for the coassembly of binary nanoparticles because
the catechol group has various desirable properties, including the
ability to coordinate metal oxides and reduce metal ions. In the fabrication
of hybrid materials based on PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt thin films,
it is challenging to control the microdomain morphologies and the
nanoparticle assembly process. In this work, we investigate the impact
of solvent vapor annealing on microphase-separated nanostructures
in lamellae-forming PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt. We show that a fast
solvent vapor annealing in a tetrahydrofuran atmosphere for 10 min
induces the formation of perpendicularly oriented lamellar structures
within PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt thin films. We also propose a stepwise
approach to create binary nanoparticles coassemblies in PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt thin films. In the first step of this process, we
exploit the metal–coordination properties of PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt catechol groups to drive the directed self-assembly of magnetite
(Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticles for the preparation of
magnetic hybrid thin films. The Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles
are dispersed and localized mainly within PVCa microdomains of the
lamellar PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt thin films. In the second step,
the catechol group reduces the Ag<sup>+</sup> ion in the magnetic
hybrid thin films, which leads to the formation of hybrid thin films
containing Ag nanoparticles. Plasmonic Ag nanoparticles and magnetic
Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles coassemble in the PVCa microdomains.
The resulting plasmonic/magnetic hybrid thin films exhibit an enhanced
magneto-optical Kerr effect because of the localized surface plasmon
resonance of the Ag nanoparticles near Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles within the PVCa microdomains. Such magneto-optical
(MO) properties make the hybrid thin films interesting for imaging
of magnetic fields and MO devices. Our results indicate that PVCa-<i>b</i>-PSt is a promising platform for developing well-ordered
hybrid thin films containing different nanoparticles
Magnetoresistance Effect in Rubrene-Based Spin Valves at Room Temperature
We fabricate spin-valve devices with
an Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/AlO/rubrene/Co stacking structure.
Their magnetoresistance (MR)
effects at room temperature and low temperatures are systemically
investigated based on the measurement of MR curves, current–voltage
response, etc. A large MR ratio of approximately 6% is achieved at
room temperature, which is one of the highest MR ratios reported to
date in organic spin valves. With decreasing measurement temperatures,
we observe that the MR ratios increase because of decrease in spin
scattering, and the width of the MR curves becomes larger owing to
increase in the coercivity of the electrodes at low temperature. A
nonlinear current–voltage dependence is clearly observed in
these organic spin valves. From the measurement of MR curve for the
spin valves with different rubrene layer thickness, we observe that
the MR ratios monotonously decrease with increasing rubrene-layer
thickness. We discuss the spin-dependent transport mechanisms in these
devices based on our experimental results and the present theoretical
analysis. Moreover, we note that the devices exhibit smaller MR ratios
after annealing compared to their counterparts without annealing.
On the basis of atomic force microscopy analysis of the organic films
and device resistances, we deduce that the increase of interface spin
scattering induced by large surface roughness after annealing most
probably leads to reduction in the MR ratios