Vincent Ball
University of Strasbourg, France
Title: From prebiotic chemistry to materials science: Deposition of aminomalononitrile based films
Biography
Biography: Vincent Ball
Abstract
Surface functionalization with strongly adhesive and easy to functionalize films has remained highly materials specific for a long time. But bio inspiration from the mussel which is able to adhere to almost all known materials under wet conditions has allowed the development of polydopamine films from the oxidation of dopamine. Other molecules seem promising in this perspective: inspiration from prebiotic chemistry and from the famous experience realized by Prof. Miller which allowed it to demonstrate that strongly adhesive and biocompatible films can be deposited at solid-liquid interfaces from aminomalonitrile solutions. In this presentation it will be demonstrated that similar aminomalononitrile based films can be obtained by electropolymerization. The mechanism of the film deposition and their morphology (Figure) will also be described. In particular we will show that films can also be deposited at liquid-air interfaces but having morphology and a composition different from that deposited at solid-liquid interfaces.
A: water contact angles of AMN based films as a function of the deposition time, and B, C: film morphology after 1 and 19 h as characterized by SEM (B) and AFM (C).