Direct Force Measurements on the Colloidal Scale: From Modified Electrodes to Particle Manipulation

In this thesis the interfacial surface forces and mechanical properties of thin films have been studied by the colloidal probe technique. One central point is the combination of direct force measurements with an electrochemical setup in order to tune interfacial properties of an electrode modified with an organic layer. In particular the adhesion and ion adsorption have been studied, which are ubiquitous phenomena in the colloid science, electrochemistry, and biology. Moreover, a novel technique has been developed to fabricate chemically and mechanically stable colloidal probes for atomic force microscopy (AFM). Additionally, the elastic properties of polyelectrolyte multilayer films were locally resolved under controlled humidity. The adhesive behaviour of colloidal particles on modified electrodes has been studied by direct force measurements with a micrometre-sized silica probe attached to an AFM-cantilever. By controlling the external potential applied to the modified electrode by means of a potentiostat, separate adhesion contributions at the modification layers in electrolyte solution were quantified. In particular, to determine the influence of the terminating functional groups, gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminated in non-ionizable groups were used. It has been demonstrated that electrostatic double-layer forces dominate the adhesion of colloidal particles on hydrophobic and hydrophilic interfaces. In contrast to hydrophilic interface, for hydrophobic one forces due to the solvent exclusion play a significant role and leads to an offset in the adhesive force, which otherwise can be compensated by the external potential. However, the electrocapillarity is of minor importance and can be neglected. To quantify the ion adsorption at organic interfaces a novel approach was followed, which is based on direct force measurements with silica colloidal probes on SAM-modified electrodes in electrolyte solutions. By variation of applied potential and concentration of specifically adsorbed ions, given by the solution’s pH, the charging behaviour of hydrophilic SAM-OH and hydrophobic SAM-CH3 has been determined. In difference to electrokinetic techniques, direct force measurements allow to probe the full range of the diffuse layer. The analysis of the diffuse layer potential as a function of externally applied potential provides important information. In particular, the shift of the potential of zero charge (pzc) indicates on the specific ion adsorption in the Stern layer as it alters the charging behaviour of the electrode’s interface. It has been demonstrated that hydronium and hydroxide ions adsorb on both the hydrophobic and hydrophilic interfaces. However, the presence of the background electrolyte (KCl) does not shift pzc and thus its ions have no specific affinity towards the interfacial adsorption. The adsorption of hydronium and hydroxide ions is stronger on hydrophobic, than on hydrophilic interface. This is in agreement with theoretical studies. The simple three-capacitor model based on a Langmuir-type adsorption isotherm provides semi-quantitative description of observed dependence of the diffuse double layer potential on applied potential. A new technique for colloidal probe preparation was developed. A great challenge for the force measurements with the AFM is to ensure the cleanliness, chemical and mechanical stability of the used probes. The approach is based on high-temperature sintering of micrometer-sized silica particles to AFM cantilever with enhanced contact area. Due to a “neck” formed by nanometer-sized particles the increased mechanical stability of colloidal probes was achieved, which has been quantitatively determined by lateral force spectroscopy. The implementation of sintering procedure for silica colloids allowed the development of the highly stable colloidal probes, whose surface properties could be renewed by heating. Finally, the mechanical properties of polyelectrolyte multilayer films have been determined by nanoindentation as a function of relative humidity. For these series of measurements again a colloidal probe has been used. It has been demonstrated that films containing polyglutamic acid have Young’s modulus, which depends on humidity. The change of stiffness with ambient humidity has reversible character.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Bayreuth

Year

2013

Author dc:creator

• Kuznetsov, Volodymyr

Contributors dc:contributor

• Papastavrou, Georg

Repository record source_url

https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/120/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:epub.uni-bayreuth.de:120