Gold-Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanocomposite Films for Plasmonic Biosensing Applications

Polymers

Mohammed Alsawafta¹  Simona Badilescu²  Abhilash Paneri²  Vo-Van Truong¹ 

[1] Physics Department, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montréal, QC H3G 1M8,Canada; E-Mails:;Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Concordia University, 1455 de MaisonneuveBlvd. W., Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada; E-Mails:

关键词: gold-PMMA;    gold-nanocomposite;    plasmonic sensor;   

DOI  :  10.3390/polym3041833

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Gold-poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites are prepared by an in situ method, by irradiating spin-coated films containing the polymer and the gold precursor dissolved in acetone. The reduction of gold ions results in the formation of Au that nucleates and grows within the polymer film. It is shown that, depending on the energy source, gold nanoparticles with different shapes can be formed. Nanocomposites prepared through UV-, thermal-, and MW-irradiation, respectively, show a low sensitivity toward the environment. However, by annealing the samples at temperatures well above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, the response to dielectric environment appears to be enhanced significantly. The sensitivity of samples synthesized through the three different methods is found to be comparable, around 100 nm/RIU. The increased sensitivity of the annealed sample is accounted for by the increased mobility of both polymer chains and gold nanoparticles in the rubbery state of the material and the presence of the monomer. Gold nanoparticles “freed” from the strong interaction with the polymer are now able to feel the molecules from the surrounding environment. The results show that, by using adequate post-synthesis heat treatments, gold-polymer nanocomposites can be used as plasmonic sensing platforms.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.