Polymer Conversion Measurement of Diacetylene-Containing Thn Films and Monolayers Using Soft X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Published

September 1, 2002

Author(s)

C E. Evans, A C. Smith, D J. Burnett, A L. Marsh, Daniel A. Fischer, J L. Gland

Abstract

Polymer formation within ordered monolayer and thin-film assemblies is measured using fluorescence yield near edge spectroscopy (FYNES). This spectroscopic method measures soft X-ray absorption in the 270 to 330 eV energy range, probing core-electron transitions to unfilled molecular orbitals by detecting the resultant fluorescence emission. By observing transitions in the carbon 1s-to-p* region (280-286 eV), the diminution of monomer and formation of polymer are measured directly and simultaneously. In contrast with spectroscopic methods measuring partial electron yield, film damage caused by neutralization of sample charging is eliminated with FYNES. Using FYNES, monomer-to-polymer conversion efficiencies for ultrathin films and monolayer assemblies are successfully measured for the first time. Measured conversion efficiencies for diacetylene-containing assemblies is near 80%, demonstrating remarkable agreement among ultrathin films, surface-attached configurations, and previous studies of thicker film structures. Likewise, polymerization kinetics for these assemblies are also similar, exhibiting at least two distinct rate regimes. These results indicate that the polymerization properties of diacetylenes are not significantly dependent on molecular architecture, and induced-dipole interactions between neighboring diacetylenes predominate.

Citation

Journal of Physical Chemistry B

Volume

106

Issue

No. 35

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

NEXAFS, polymers, soft x-ray, thin films

Citation

Evans, C. , Smith, A. , Burnett, D. , Marsh, A. , Fischer, D. and Gland, J. (2002), Polymer Conversion Measurement of Diacetylene-Containing Thn Films and Monolayers Using Soft X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Journal of Physical Chemistry B (Accessed October 12, 2025)