Langmuir–Blodgett films based on poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and protein-stabilised palladium nanoparticles: Implications in luminescent and conducting properties

• Palladium nanoparticles were introduced in conducting polymer-fatty acid monolayers.
• Hybrid films were characterised with tensiometry and infrared spectroscopy.
• Films were transferred to solid supports with the Langmuir–Blodgett technique.
• Nanoparticles enhanced luminescence and conducting properties.

In this paper, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) block copolymers (PPV) were immobilised in stearic acid (HSt) Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films, and their conducting and luminescent properties were enhanced by the incorporation of palladium nanoparticles stabilised by glucose oxidase (GOx-PdNPs). The nanobiocomposite, based on HSt, PPV, and GOx-PdNPs, was transferred from the air-water interface onto solid supports using the LB technique. The films were characterised by surface pressure–area isotherms, polarisation modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and conductivity measurements. The results indicated that the incorporation of GOx-PdNPs in PPV-HSt LB films enhances the luminescence and conducting properties of the PPV. Based on the higher conductivity and emission obtained with the hybrid LB films and the ability to tune the molecular-level interactions between the film components by changing the experimental conditions, thus allowing for further optimisation, one may envisage applications for these films in optical and electronic devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes.