Characterization of LB thin films of a novel 2-(4-methoxyphenylamino)- 2-oxoethyl methacrylate and sensing properties towards volatile organic vapors

Abstract

The synthesis, characterization and vapor sensing applications of a novel 2-(4-methoxyphenylamino)- 2-oxoethyl methacrylate (MPAEMA) materials are reported in this study. FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra are used to analayze the structure of novel MPAEMA monomers. The thin film deposition conditions of MPAEMA monomer materials, which are prepared by LB film technique, are characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) techniques. Transfer ratio values are found to be over 92 % for different substrates. The typical frequency shift per layer is obtained as 20.30 Hz / layer and the deposited mass onto a quartz crystal is calculated as 763.54 ng / layer. Vapor sensing properties of these LB films against five different volatile organic compounds are studied using the QCM technique. The sensitivities to vapors are determined between 6.82 x 10-4 and 1.63 x 10-4 Hz ppm-1 . MPAEMA LB film is more sensitive to chloroform and dichloromethane than other vapors. Responses of the MPAEMA LB film to these vapors are fast, large and reversible. Detection limits are calculated between 0.43 x 104 and 1.84 x 104 ppm. It can be concluded that this novel MPAEMA material is promising as a vapor sensing device at room temperature.