Interaction between atrazine and phthalocyanine via Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films

Abstract

In this project, thin films (from monolayers up to nanometers in thickness) of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) will be fabricated using Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) techniques, targeting future applications on sensing units. The Langmuir films correspond to the monolayers formed at the air/water interface and the deposition of these monolayers onto solid substrates originates the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. The main information to be obtained refers to the response of FePc in presence of atrazine, which is a herbicide widely applied in agriculture, however which might cause serious problems to our health. The interaction between FePc and atrazine will be investigated using both Langmuir and LB films. In the case of Langmuir films, the atrazine will be dissolved into an aqueous subphase and surface pressure vs. mean molecular area isotherms (À-A isotherms) will be obtained. In the case of LB films, micro-Raman scattering and Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) will be applied. Besides, the quality of the LB films in terms of thickness control and morphological surface must be monitored. The thickness will be monitored via ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy vs. a number of deposited LB layers. The morphology will be determined at the micrometer scale via micro-Raman, which combines morphology and chemical information by coupling an optical microscope to a Raman spectrograph, and at nanometer scale via atomic force microscopy (AFM). This project is part of the research line associated with the CNPq fellowship (PQ 1d) and the research project FAPESP 2009/16021-1. The candidate for this fellowship has just completed the 2nd year in the undergrad Physics at this University. He has a good academic curriculum, and about one year he has been developed research activities in our Group in a dedicated and enthusiastic way.(AU)