With respect to nanopore functionalization we are developing strategies allowing the design of (nano)locally functionalized nanopores, functional gradients, and multifunctional nanopores.
a) Polymerization control in nanopores
Advanced transport control in nanopores beyond gating in the first place requires functionalization control. This holds for gradual control of nanopore accessiblity, gradient design as well as for multifunctionality in nanopores. Therfore, we explored different polymerization strategies to control polymer amount and polymer location in nanoporous films.
Currently involved team members: Claire Förster, Lucy Zhao, Laura Despot
Formerly involved team members: Dr. Fabio Krohm, Dr. Laura Silies-Kretschmar, Dr. Jessica Tom, Dr. Robert Brilmayer
Funding: LOEWE „Soft-Control“ 2011-2014, Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation (Exploration Grant) 2015-2016, LOEWE i-Napo
J. Tom, R. Brilmayer, J. Schmidt, A. Andrieu-Brunsen, Optimisation of Surface-Initiated Photoiniferter-Mediated Polymerisation under Confinement, and the Formation of Block Copolymers in Mesoporous Films, Polymers 2017, 9(10), 539,
F. Krohm, J. Kind, R. Savka, M. Alcaraz Janßen, D. Herold, H. Plenio, C. M. Thiele, A. Andrieu-Brunsen, „Photochromic Spiropyran- and Spirooxazine-Homopolymers in Mesoporous Thin Films by Surface Initiated ROMP“, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016 Emerging Investigators themed issue: Novel design strategies for new functional materials, 2016, 4, 4071. Correction: page 4077
A. Andrieu-Brunsen*, S. Micoureau, M. Tagliazucchi, I. Szleifer, O. Azzaroni, G. J. A. A. Soler-Illia*, Mesoporous Hybrid Thin Film Membranes with PMETAC@Silica Architectures: Controlling Ionic Gating Through the Tuning of Polyelectrolyte Density, Chem. Mater., 2015, 27, 808.
L. Silies, H. Didzoleit, C. Hess, B. Stühn, A. Andrieu-Brunsen, Mesoporous Thin Films, Zwitterionic Monomers, and Iniferter-Initiated Polymerization: Polymerization in a Confined Space, Chem. Mater., 2015, 27, 1971.
b) Nanolocal functionalization
Compartmentalization and miniaturization of device components is essential e.g. to build multifunctional small lab-on-chip devices. Transport direction will need functional (nano)gradients along nanopores. Localized detection will need (nano) local readout. We are exploring the potential of near field modes to localize polymer functionalization in three dimensions at the nanoscale. Due to the wavelength region of these near field modes and high resolution microscopy techniques such as surface plasmons this needs visible light (> 470 nm) induced polymerizations. Currently, we are for example investigating dye-sensitized polymerization using methylene blue or fluoresceine.
Currently involved team members: Cliare Förster, Robert Lehn, Marius Kirsch
Formerly involved team members: Nicole Herzog, Daniel John
Funding: ERC StG, DFG
Finished Projects: Adolf-Messer Stiftung, DFG
M. Stanzel, L. Zhao, R. Mohammadi, R. Pardehkhorram, U. Kunz, N. Vogel (FAU Erlangen), A. Andrieu-Brunsen, „Simultaneous Nanolocal Polymer and In Situ Readout Unit Placement in Mesoporous Separation Layers“, Anal. Chem., 2021, 93, 13, 5394-5402.
D. John, M. Stanzel, A. Andrieu-Brunsen, „Surface Plasmons and Visible Light Iniferter Initiated Polymerization for Nanolocal Functionalization of Mesoporous Separation Layers“, Adv. Funct. Mater., 2021, 31,2009732.
M. Ochs, R. Mohammadi, N. Vogel, A. Andrieu-Brunsen, „Wetting-controlled localized placement of surface functionalities within nanopores“, Small, 2020, 16, 1906463.
D. John, R. Mohammadi, N. Vogel, A. Andrieu-Brunsen, „Surface plasmon and green light induced polymerization in mesoporous thin silica films“, Langmuir, 2020, 36, 7, 1671-1679.
N. Herzog, J. Kind, C. Hess and A. Andrieu-Brunsen, „Surface plasmon & visible light for polymer functionalization of mesopores and manipulation of ionic permselectivity“, Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 11697-11700.