Interfacial chemistry of catechol-based nanostructures

Abstract

Catechols are aromatic derivatives present in a variety of environments in nature. Due to their broad physicochemical versatility, they play pivotal roles in multiple natural processes. Probably their most popular appearance is in the adhesive proteins of mussels in the form of the rare aminoacid L-DOPA, which is considered to be essential for the strong adhesion of mussels to surfaces under high humidity conditions. This phenomenon has fascinated scientists for decades and intensive research has been carried out in order to understand and mimic these systems. Furthermore, other chemical properties of catechols, such as their metal-chelating and redox behaviour have also been addressed for both fundamental understanding and practical application. _x000D_ In this thesis we were interested in the obtention of nanoscale catechol-based systems and the study of their properties. For that, a multidisciplinary work was carried out which included the synthesis of new organic compounds, the preparation of nanostructures and the use of advanced microscopies and lithographic techniques._x000D_ The role of packing density and orientation of catechol moieties in the interfacial properties of catechol-terminated SAMs was studied at the local scale using an AFM tip or, alternatively, magnetic nanoparticles. The influence that the presence of the catechol ring has on the formation and final structure of SAMs was also addressed. On the other hand, the synthesis of catechol-based polymers in confined volumes was performed using direct-write AFM-assisted lithography. Polydopamine and coordination polymer particles were fabricated directly on surfaces by controlled delivery of their molecular precursors in the shape of femtolitre-sized droplets. With that, we demonstrated the viability of using this technique to place functional amorphous materials on specific areas of surfaces.

Date of Award	6 Nov 2015
Original language	Undefined/Unknown
Awarding Institution	Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
Supervisor	Felix Busque Sanchez (Director) & Daniel Ruiz Molina (Director)