ENZYME-MEDIATED 2-DIMENSIONAL POLYMERIZATION OF AROMATIC DERIVATIVES ON A LANGMUIR TROUGH

An examination of the assembly and biocatalytic polymerization of mixed aromatic monomeric systems was undertaken using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Pressure-area isotherms of 4-(tetradecyloxy)phenol, 4-(hexadecyloxy)phenol, 4-(hexadecyl)aniline, 4-ethylphenol, pyrrole, aniline, and phenol in various ratios were determined. Polymerizations on the Langmuir trough were carried out using the enzymes horseradish peroxidase and laccase. UV-vis spectroscopy revealed that the polymerized monolayers possess extensive electronic conjugation in the polymer backbone. Fourier-transformed IR, attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transformed IR, thermal gravimetric analysis, conductivity, and nonlinear optical properties were measured to characterize the monolayers, to determine the extent of conjugation, to assess the orientation of the alkyl chains with respect to the substrate surface for LB films with multilayers, and to assess electrical and optical properties.