Evolution of the UV-vis spectra of the thin films obtained by ISS process and LbL-E deposition technique as a function

of two temperatures values (ambient and 200°C). Figure 9 Normalized UV-vis spectra for ISS and LbL-E films after thermal post-treatment. Normalized UV-vis spectra for ISS and LbL-E films after thermal post-treatment (200°C) with their maximal wavelength shift and their FWHM. Figure 10 Cross-sectional TEM micrographs of the upper part of the thin film and AFM phase images. (a, b) Cross-sectional TEM micrograph of the upper part of the thin film and AFM surface phase image for the ISS process. (c, d) Cross-sectional TEM micrograph of the upper part of the thin film and AFM surface INK1197 learn more phase image for the LbL-E deposition technique. Figure 11 SEM images of the thin films. (a) ISS process. (b) LbL-E deposition technique. As a conclusion of both processes, the use of PAA as a protective agent of the AgNPs in the LbL-E deposition technique is of vital importance because it can prevent NVP-HSP990 purchase cluster formation along the coating, although it is possible to appreciate nanoparticles of higher size along the coating thickness. To sum up and according to the results, LbL-E deposition technique allows the incorporation of AgNPs of

higher size along the film, whereas cluster formation mixed with AgNPs of small size is only observed for the ISS process. Conclusions This work is based on the synthesis and incorporation of silver nanoparticles into thin films using two alternative techniques with remarkable differences, the ISS process and the LbL-E deposition technique. Firstly, both processes are separately analyzed as a function of several parameters such as Galeterone the pH value of the

dipping polyelectrolyte solutions, thickness evolution, or temperature effect. Secondly, a comparative study between both processes has been performed in order to establish the difference in the size and distribution of the nanoparticles into the LbL films. In both methodologies, the presence of a weak polyelectrolyte such as poly(acrylic acid, sodium salt) is the key for synthesizing metallic silver nanoparticles due to its pH-dependent behavior, making possible to obtain carboxylate and carboxylic acid groups as a function of the pH value. For the ISS process, the presence of free carboxylic acid groups is the key for the introduction of silver ions which are further reduced to silver nanoparticles. However, in the case of the LbL-E deposition technique, PAA is acting as an encapsulating agent of the nanoparticles and these AgNPs are incorporated into thin films by the electrostatic attraction between the polycation (PAH), and the carboxylate groups of the PAA capped the nanoparticles (PAA-AgNPs). The location of the LSPR absorption bands varies from 424.6 nm for the ISS process to 432.6 nm for the LbL-E deposition technique.