Fabrication of multilayer thin films via metal-macromolecular ligand complexation

Layer-by-layer complexation of macromolecular ligands employing lanthanide metal ions was developed as a new technique to fabricate multilayer thin fi lms. Poly(S-thiophene acetic acid) [PTAA] was prepared as a macromolecular ligand and was successfully used in the fabrication of self-assembled multi layer films by alternatively dipping desired substrates in aqueous polymer and Eu3+ ion, solutions. The multilayer deposition was monitored by the abs orbance increase due to polymer using UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The eff ect of process parameters including temperature, concentration and pH of th e solutions were studied to understand and to optimize the multilayer thin film characteristics. The pH of the polymer solution has dramatic influence on the thickness of the multilayer film; absorption of film increased with increase in pH of the solution. The effect of process variables on the abs orbance of the deposited multilayer was explained based on the conformation al changes of polymer segments. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights r eserved.