Colorimetric sensing of fatty acids in organic solvents using polydiacetylene-based nanocomposites.

Colorimetric detection of long chain fatty acids by polydiacetylenes (PDAs)-based sensors is quite a challenge, mainly due to their relatively low solubility in aqueous media. In this study, we developed PDA/Zn/ZnO nanocomposites in various organic solvents for detecting fatty acids. Oleic acid and steric acid were used as representatives of fatty acids with bent and linear structures, respectively.

Acid-responsive polydiacetylene-Na assemblies with unique red-to-blue color transition.

Polydiacetylenes (PDAs), conjugated and stimuli-responsive polymers, are of interest for colorimetric sensing technologies. Commercially available PDAs with carboxylic headgroup do not show any colorimetric response to acid. To achieve acid-responsive property, the headgroups of PDAs are often modified with some functional moieties, involving complicated synthetic processes.

Fine tuning the color-transition temperature of thermoreversible polydiacetylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites: The effect of photopolymerization time.

An ability to control the thermochromic behaviors of polydiacetylene (PDA)-based materials is very important for their utilization. Recently, our group has developed the PDA/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposites, which exhibit reversible thermochromism (Traiphol et al., 2011).

Dual colorimetric response of polydiacetylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites to low and high pH.

This contribution presents our continuation work on the color-transition behaviors of polydiacetylene(PDA)/ZnO nanocomposites prepared by using three types of monomers, 5,7-hexadecadiynoic acid (HDDA), 10,12-tricosadiynoic acid (TCDA) and 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA). The color-transition behaviors of these nanocomposites upon exposure to acid and base are investigated by utilizing UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. We have found that these PDA/ZnO nanocomposites exhibit colorimetric response at both low and high pH regions.

Controlling the reversible thermochromism of polydiacetylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites by varying alkyl chain length.

In this work, polydiacetylene (PDA)/ZnO nanocomposites are successfully fabricated by using three types of monomers with different alkyl chain length, 5,7-hexadecadiynoic acid, 10,12-tricosadiynoic acid, and 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid. The monomers dispersed in aqueous medium spontaneously assemble onto the surface of ZnO nanoparticles, promoted by strong interfacial interactions. The PDA/ZnO nanocomposites obtained via photopolymerization process are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, laser light scattering, infrared spectroscopy, and uv/vis absorption spectroscopy.

Stable polydiacetylene/ZnO nanocomposites with two-steps reversible and irreversible thermochromism: the influence of strong surface anchoring.

This contribution introduces a versatile method to prepare a new class of polydiacetylene(PDA)-based material. ZnO nanoparticle is used as a nano-substrate for spontaneous assembling of diacetylene monomer, 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid, on its surface. An irradiation of the organized assemblies by UV light results in PDA/ZnO nanocomposites with deep blue color.