SPM Methods in Conducting Polymer Materials and Hyphenated AFM-Electrochemistry and Surface Plasmon Spectroscopy (AFM-EC-SPR)

Nanostructuring involves the application of materials and processing methods to achieve unique dimensional structures at the nanoscale in flat surfaces and colloidal particulars. We have used electro-nanopatterning methods to conduct AFM and colloidally templated arrays. Electro-nanopatterning using current/potential control and the AFM tip enables quantification of patterning and heterojunction behavior characterization at the nanoscale. Our group has reported several innovative methods using AFM to characterize soft matter. The colloidal array fabrication scheme combines the electropolymerization process with template-assisted electropolymerization or template-directed electrosynthesis, followed by removal with SPM and conducting AFM, which play a pivotal role in characterization. Until now, colloidal template 2D electropolymerization remains an unexplored method, and there are only a few accounts on colloidal template electropolymerization techniques for micropatterning polymer films. Lastly, we describe an in-operando method of combined AFM-electrochemistry- -surface plasmon spectroscopy or AFM-EC-SPR to probe the electropolymerization kinetics, morphology, and dielectric constants simultaneously in conducting polymers. There is a high potential for applying AI/ML-driven workflows.