Spraying layer-by-layer assembly film based on the coordination bond of bioinspired polydopamine–FeIII

Publication date: 1 February 2016
Source:Thin Solid Films, Volume 600
Author(s): Han Xu, Mi Hu, Ke-feng Ren, Jin-lei Wang, Xiang-sheng Liu, Fan Jia, Yi-xiu Zhao, Jian Ji
Spraying layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique has been developed for rapid and efficient fabrication of functional films. The spraying method generally requires relatively fast formation of stable interactions among the building components. In this study, inspired by nature, the fast and strong coordination bond between catechol groups (polydopamine, PDA) and metal ions (Fe³⁺) was employed to fabricate (poly(ethylenimine)/PDA-coated carbon nanotubes) (PEI/CNTs@PDA) multilayer film. The coordination bond significantly enhanced the films' crosslinking during the spraying LbL procedures. Ellipsometry results confirmed the successful assembly of the [PEI/(CNTs@PDA+Fe³⁺)] multilayer film. The hierarchical micro/nano-structures were observed on the multilayer surface. As a potential functionalization, the multilayer film was then coated with a low surface energy silane compound via thermal chemical vapor deposition method, leading to a superhydrophobic surface. By taking advantages of the specific rapid coordination bond of PDA and Fe³⁺, this study provides an efficient and fast strategy to fabricate functional surfaces through spraying LbL assembly.