Electrochemically assisted generation of oriented and nanostructured silica-based thin films : functionalization via click chemistry, characterization and applications

In this work, we exploited the vertically-aligned mesoporous silica thin films generated by electro-assisted self-assembly (EASA). First of all, we present a study about the amplification of charge transfer of a repulsed anionic redox probes [i.e. Fe(CN)63-/4-] through the negatively charged silica film by using neutrally or positively charged redox probes [Fc(MeOH)2 or Ru(NH3)63+ respectively] through redox mediating processes. Furthermore, the functionalization can be conducted by combining EASA method to obtain azide-functionalized silica film and further letting it react with an ethynyl-bearing reactant (e.g. ethynyl-ferrocene) according Huisgen click chemistry. The resulting ferrocene-functionalized silica films are electroactive, involving an electron hopping mechanism between adjacent ferrocene moieties. The electrochemical oxidation of ferrocene into ferricinium ion generates positive charges that are compensated by the ingress of anions into the film, opening the door to possible indirect amperometric detection of non-electroactive anions by flow injection analysis. Operating in an electrolyte-free flow, each injection of an anion (e.g., NO3-) at an electrode biased at a suitable positive potential (i.e., +0.5 V) gave rise to an amperometric response proportional to the anion concentration. However, to avoid the decrease of the electrochemical signal due to the progressive consumption of ferrocene in multiple successive analyses, it was necessary to regenerate the electrode by reduction of ferricinium moieties, which can be achieved in-situ by square wave amperometry. The feasibility to apply such indirect amperometric detection scheme in suppressed ion chromatography (for detecting anions in mixture) was also demonstrated. The oriented mesoporous film can also be functionalized with ruthenium(II)bipyridyl complex [Ru(bpy)2(bpy’)]2+ using the same method. Optimization of the functionalization level is controlled electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and monitored through the UV-vis spectra. Further study is conducted upon the charge transfer (electron hopping along the adjacent sites) and the mass transfer of the compensating counter anion through the mesochannels by varying the CV potential scan rate. The emission of the [Ru(bpy)2(bpy’)]2+-functionalized film and its quenching in the presence of oxygen are evidenced in both aqueous and organic solvent, giving opportunities to apply the film for different application, such as electrochemiluminescence sensor and oxygen detection. Lastly, the vertically-aligned mesoporous silica film is used as a hard template to grow polyanilinine nanofilaments. The growth of ordered polyaniline nanofilaments is controlled by potentiostatic polymerization. In such small pore template (2 nm in diameter), quasi-single PANI chains are likely to be produced. From chronoamperometric experiments and using films of various thicknesses (100−200 nm) it is possible to evidence the electropolymerization transients, wherein each stage of polymerization (induction period, growth, and overgrowth of polyaniline on mesoporous silica films) is clearly identified. The advantageous effect of mesostructured silica thin films as hard templates for the generation of isolated polyaniline nanofilaments is demonstrated from enhancement of the reversibility between the conductive and the nonconductive states of polyaniline and the higher electroactive surface areas displayed for all mesoporous silica/PANI composites. The possibility to control and tailor the growth of conducting polymer nanofilaments offers numerous opportunities for applications in various fields including energy, sensors and biosensors, photovoltaics, nanophotonics, or nanoelectronics