Electrophoretic deposition of composite silica/latex particles onto gold substrate and polythiophene-based films

Electrophoretic deposition of raspberry-like particles was carried out onto a gold substrate and polythiophene films. Electropolymerization of thiophenic derivatives was performed on gold electrode using cyclic voltametry in acetonitrile with NBu4PF6 or LiClO4 as the supporting electrolyte. The inorganic/organic raspberry-like particles were silica nanoparticles (20 nm diameter) adsorbed on cationic latex particles of submicron size (450 nm in diameter). The charge of composite particles was turned positive by the adsorption of cethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Particle electrophoretic deposition was performed using a specific laminar flow cell. Depending on the type of monomer and the supporting electrolyte, the polymer films exhibit different morphologies and thicknesses. A high surface coverage of the gold substrate by the silica/latex particles was observed. In the case of the gold substrate functionalised with polymer films, particles were mainly deposited around the aggregates of the polymer films.

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► Raspberry-like particles were composed of silica nanoparticles adsorbed on submicron latex particles.
► Films synthesised with LiClO4 are more hydrophilic than films synthesised with NBu4PF6 electrolyte.
► Dense and small polymer aggregates (surface area 10–50 μm2) are more numerous in the case of LiClO4.
► Particles electrophoretic deposition depends on the morphology and wettability of polymer films.
► Particle deposit around small and dense polymer aggregates synthesised with LiClO4 electrolyte.