Macromolecular Nanotechnology
[MAPR2012]
[45h + 15h] 5 credits
This course is taught in the 2d semester.
Teacher(s): Sophie Demoustier, Jean-François Gohy, Alain Jonas, Bernard Nysten(coord.)
Language: French
Level: Second
Aims
This course also aims at introducing some characterisation techniques especially suited for the study of the structure and of the properties of macromolecular nanostructures.
At the end of their classes students are expected to be able:
- to propose fabrication methods to realise a given nanostructure presenting specified properties (electrical, biochemical, optical,...); to compare and discuss their advantages and drawbacks; to propose characterisation techniques;
- to propose methods for the (bio-)functionalization of surfaces; to compare and discuss their advantages and drawbacks;
- to understand and apply the phase separation phenomenons in block copolymers in order to propose polymer nanomaterials for specified applications;
- to understand the basic working principles of scanning probe microscopies;
- to apply these techniques to characterise the structure/morphology and/or the properties of a given macromolecular nanostructure, or to fabricate a macromolecular nanostructure.
Main themes
A second part is dedicated to "soft" nano-fabrication techniques, particularly "soft" nanolithography and nano-fabrication through self-assembly.
The third part aims at sensitize students to the phenomena of phase separation in block copolymers. The various morphologies obtained in the solid state with di- and tri-block copolymers are discussed in more details. Phase separation is then discussed in the case of thin films or in a good solvent of one of the block (micellar structures). A special emphasis is placed on the recent applications in nanotechnology and the present state-of-the-art.
In the fourth part, the synthesis, the properties and the applications of nanowires and nanotubes are presented. This part particularly describes the different techniques to fabricate such nanostructures with an accurate control of their size, geometry, composition and surface properties. Structures based on conjugated polymers are presented together with some of their applications in nano-electronics. The applications of these nanostructures in biomedicine are also discussed.
The last part is dedicated to the presentation of the principles of scanning probe microscopies (STM and AFM) and of certain applications of these techniques in macromolecular nanotechnology: the use of scanning tunnelling spectroscopy for the characterisation of the electronic properties of conjugated polymers, the characterisation of block copolymers by phase detection microscopy, single molecule force spectroscopy, manipulation of atoms or molecules and nano-fabrication by SPM.
Content and teaching methods
II. Organic thin films and self-assembled layers
II.1. Self-assembled layers: thiol and silane monolayers, polyelectrolyte multilayers, Langmuir-Blodgett films
II.2. Organic thin films: fabrication techniques, use and stability (dewetting)
II.3. Optical characterisation methods of the structure of organic films: ellipsometry, X-ray and neutron reflectometry
III. " Soft " methods of nano-fabrication
III.1. " Soft " nanolithographies and related techniques
III.2. Nano-fabrication by directed self-assembly
IV. Block copolymers and micellar structures
IV.1. Solid state phase separation: macro- and micro- phase separation, phase diagrams
IV.2. Various morphologies in block copolymers
IV.3. Amphiphilic copolymers and micellar systems
IV.4. Self-assembly of block copolymers in thin films and surface effects
IV.5. Examples of applications of copolymers in nanotechnology
V. Synthesis, properties and applications of nanowires and nanotubes with controlled size, shape and surface properties
V.1. " Templated nanostructures "
V.2. Nanostructures based on conjugated polymers
V.3. Polymer brushes: surface-immobilized macromolecules
V.4. Biomolecules immobilization
V.5. Biomedical applications of one-dimensional nanostructures
VI. Scanning probe microscopies in macromolecular nanotechnology
VI.1. Principles and techniques of scanning probe microscopies
VI.2. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy and electrostatic force microscopy
VI.3. Vibrating atomic force microscopies and phase detection
VI.4. Single molecule force spectroscopy
VI.5. Nano-fabrication with SPM
Méthods:
Various teaching methods will be used. They will be presented at the beginning of the semester. They could consist of, for instance, lectures illustrated by examples extracted from the recent litterature and/or with exercices, seminars prepared by the students, laboratories or small projects.
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)