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Pyrene-containing polymers have been prepared for noncovalent sidewall functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). (1-Pyrene)methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate (PyMMP) has been synthesized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA). Poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-poly(MMA-co-PyMMP) diblocks have also been synthesized. The surface of MWNTs, produced by both the CCVD and arc discharge methods, has been modified by these copolymers for making them dispersible in a variety of organic solvents. The modified MWNTs have been characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy.

Some biomolecules are able to generate directional forces by rectifying random thermal motions. This allows these molecular machines to perform mechanical tasks such as intracellular cargo transport or muscle contraction in plants and animals. Although some artificial molecular machines have been synthesized and used collectively to perform mechanical tasks, so far there have been no direct measurements of mechanical processes at the single-molecule level. Here we report measurements of the mechanical work performed by a synthetic molecule less than 5 nm long. We show that biased Brownian motion of the sub-molecular components in a hydrogen-bonded [2]rotaxane-a molecular ring threaded onto a molecular axle-can be harnessed to generate significant directional forces. We used the cantilever of an atomic force microscope to apply a mechanical load to the ring during single-molecule pulling-relaxing cycles. The ring was pulled along the axle, away from the thermodynamically favoured binding site, and was then found to travel back to this site against an external load of 30 pN. Using fluctuation theorems, we were able to relate measurements of the work done at the level of individual rotaxane molecules to the free-energy change as previously determined from ensemble measurements. The results show that individual rotaxanes can generate directional forces of similar magnitude to those generated by natural molecular machines.

We report on the exchange between a hydrophilic thiol (11-mercapto-1-undecanol) in a liquid or gas phase and a hydrophobic thiol (dodecanethiol) of similar length self-assembled on a polycrystalline gold surface for a wide range of temperatures and times. The molecular composition of the mixed monolayers is determined by the static water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. Atomic force microscopy in lateral force mode is used to characterize the molecular domains at the nanometer level. The exchange first occurs rapidly at the gold grain boundaries, with an activation energy of about 66 +/- 4 kJ/mol. Then, boundaries of ordered thiol domains are progressively replaced, and the exchange is slowed because only regions of increasing perfection are left untouched. Higher temperatures lead to faster kinetics of replacement and the removal of larger amounts of the original thiol. No significant difference could be detected between exchange occurring in an ethanol solution or in the gas phase, and the initial rate of exchange was found to be similar for the displacement of dodecanethiol by 11-mercapto-1-undecanol molecules and for the converse displacement.

International audienceHere we report on an all-in-one approach to prepare robust antimicrobial films on stainless steel. The strategy is based on the layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolytes. A polycationic copolymer bearing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine units (DOPA, a major component of natural adhesives) was synthesized and co-deposited with precursors of silver nanoparticles as the first layer. The presence of DOPA units ensures a strong anchoring on the stainless steel substrate, and the silver nanoparticles are sources of biocidal Ag+, providing stainless steel with antimicrobial activity. We show that multilayered films, obtained by alternating this nanoparticle-loaded polycationic copolymer with polystyrene sulfonate, a commercial polyanion, results in stainless steel with high antibacterial activity against Gram-negative E. coli bacteria. The polycationic layers are a reservoir of Ag+ that can be reactivated after depletion. The whole process of film formation, including the synthesis of the copolymer, is conducted in aqueous media under very mild conditions, which makes it very attractive for industrial scale-up and sustainable applications