Print Email Facebook Twitter In situ characterization of the initial effect of water on molecular interactions at the interface of organic/inorganic hybrid systems Title In situ characterization of the initial effect of water on molecular interactions at the interface of organic/inorganic hybrid systems Author Pletincx, S. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Trotochaud, L. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Fockaert, L.I. (TU Delft (OLD) MSE-6) Mol, J.M.C. (TU Delft (OLD) MSE-6) Head, A.R. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Karslıoğlu, O. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Bluhm, H. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Terryn, H.A. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) Hauffman, T. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) Date 2017 Abstract Probing initial interactions at the interface of hybrid systems under humid conditions has the potential to reveal the local chemical environment at solid/solid interfaces under real-world, technologically relevant conditions. Here, we show that ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) with a conventional X-ray source can be used to study the effects of water exposure on the interaction of a nanometer-thin polyacrylic acid (PAA) layer with a native aluminum oxide surface. The formation of a carboxylate ionic bond at the interface is characterized both with APXPS and in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the Kretschmann geometry (ATR-FTIR Kretschmann). When water is dosed in the APXPS chamber up to 5 Torr (∼28% relative humidity), an increase in the amount of ionic bonds at the interface is observed. To confirm our APXPS interpretation, complementary ATR-FTIR Kretschmann experiments on a similar model system, which is exposed to an aqueous electrolyte, are conducted. These spectra demonstrate that water leads to an increased wet adhesion through increased ionic bond formation. Subject Characterization and analytical techniquesCompositesNanoscale materialsPhysical chemistry To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:79048f68-f5b5-47b9-8c30-42ee61392a4d DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/srep45123 ISSN 2045-2322 Source Scientific Reports, 7 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2017 S. Pletincx, L. Trotochaud, L.I. Fockaert, J.M.C. Mol, A.R. Head, O. Karslıoğlu, H. Bluhm, H.A. Terryn, T. Hauffman Files PDF srep45123.pdf 1.08 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:79048f68-f5b5-47b9-8c30-42ee61392a4d/datastream/OBJ/view