Sequential Infiltration Synthesis of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> in Biodegradable Polybutylene Succinate: Characterization of the Infiltration Mechanism

Publication date: 3 Ott 2022

JournalSource: OPENALEXOpenAlex type: articleOpen Access
Authors: Alessia Motta, Gabriele Seguini, Michele Perego, Roberto Consonni, Antonella Caterina Boccia, Gina Ambrosio, C. Baratto, Pierfrancesco Cerruti, Marino Lavorgna, Stefano Tagliabue, Claudia Wiemer

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The introduction of inorganic materials into biopolymers has been envisioned as a viable option to modify the optical and structural properties of these polymers and promote their exploitation in different application fields. In this work, the growth of Al 2 O 3 in freestanding ∼30-μm-thick poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) films by sequential infiltration (SIS) at 70 °C via trimethylaluminum (TMA) and H 2 O precursors was investigated for the first time. The incorporation of Al 2 O 3 into the PBS matrix was clearly demonstrated by XPS analysis and SEM-EDX cross-sectional images showing a homogeneous Al 2 O 3 distribution inside the PBS films. Raman measurements on infiltrated freestanding PBS show a reduction of the signal related to the ester carbonyl group as compared to pristine freestanding PBS films. Accordingly, FTIR and NMR characterization highlighted that the ester group is involved in polymer–precursor interaction, leading to the formation of an aliphatic group and the concomitant rupture of the main polymeric chain. Al 2 O 3 mass uptake as a function of the number of SIS cycles was studied by infiltration in thin PBS films spin-coated on Si substrates ranging from 30 to 70 nm. Mass uptake in the PBS films was found to be much higher than in standard poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films, under the same process conditions. Considering that the density of reactive sites in the two polymers is roughly the same, the observed difference in Al 2 O 3 mass uptake is explained based on the different free volume of these polymers and the specific reaction mechanism proposed for PBS. These results assessed the possibility to use SIS as a tool for the growth of metal oxides into biopolymers, paving the way to the synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid materials with tailored characteristics.

Origin
ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Volume
4
Issue
10
Pages
7191-7203
Cited by
9
Legacy ID
50d9c3721454217a23ac5ce272b1d4e0
Biblio references
Volume: 4 Issue: 10 Pages: 7191-7203