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Nanocomposite membranes are highly sensitive

Nanocomposite organic-inorganic films are unique candidates for a new generation of membrane-based pressure, chemical, and temperature microsensor arrays, according to researchers at Iowa State University [Nat. Mater., 3, 721 (2004)]. Vladimir V. Tsukruk and Chaoyan Jiang used spin-assisted layer-by-layer assembly to fabricate 25–70-nm-thick films consisting of a central gold nanoparticle layer sandwiched between alternating monolayers of two polyelectrolytes: poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate). The membranes are lightweight, flexible, mechanically robust, and can be freely suspended over openings with diameters of several hundred micrometers. Their sensitivity to external forces is three to four orders of magnitude higher than that of an ultrathin silicon membrane with the same diameter. The extreme elasticity and recovery capabilities of nanocomposite membranes that have been pushed to the limits of their mechanical stability are outstanding and unexpected, the authors note. They hypothesize that these unparalleled abilities are caused by the unique multilayered structure of the membranes combined with a high level of spreading of the macromolecular chains in the plane of the films and over the metal nanoparticles.




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