Atomic force spectroscopy (AFS) was used to measure interaction forces
between the tip and nanostructured layers of
poly(o-ethoxyaniline) (POEA) in pure water and CuSO4
solutions. When the tip approach and retraction were carried out at low
speeds, POEA chains could be physisorbed onto the
Si3N4 tip via nonspecific interactions. We
conjecture that while detaching, POEA chains were stretched and the
estimated chain lengths were consistent with the expected values from the
measured POEA molecular weight. The effects from POEA doping could be
investigated directly by performing AFS measurements in a liquid cell,
with the POEA film exposed to liquids of distinct pH values. For pH ≥
6.0, the force curves normally displayed an attractive region for POEA,
but at lower pH values—where POEA is protonated—the repulsive
double-layer forces dominated. Measurements in the liquid cell could be
further exploited to investigate how the film morphology and the force
curve are affected when impurities are deliberately introduced in the
liquid. The shape of the force curves and the film morphology depended on
the concentration of heavy metal in the liquid cell. AFS may therefore be
used to study the interaction between film and analyte, with important
implications for the understanding of mechanisms governing the sensing
ability of taste sensors.