Meet Professor Pierre Schaaf, CNRS

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Pierre Schaaf, CNRSProfessor Pierre Schaaf, giving a talk at the QCM-D Scientific World Tour in Bensheim, Germany in Septeber 2011:

The title of your talk for the QCM-D Scientific World Tour 2011 is From step-by-step construction to one pot film buildup. How is this related to your research?

Professor Pierre Schaaf quick facts
  • Affiliation: CNRS, University of Strasbourg
  • Other science related activities: Member of the Advisory Editorial Board of "Chemisrty of Materials"
  • Number of published papers:  219
  • Citation number: 8044
  • Favorite quote or famous person you admire:
    "There are two scientists that I met during my carrier and that I admire:  Prof. Howard Reiss from the university of California, Los Angeles and Prof. Dick Bedeaux from the University of Leiden" says Professor Pierre Schaaf.

"Since more then 10 years we are working on polyelectrolyte multilayers. They are obtained by a step-by-step deposition process of polyanions and polycations. Since three years we work on step-by-step deposition processes based on the formation of covalent bonds between the layers during each deposition step. We are doing this by using a Cu(I) click reaction between azide and alkyne groups grafted on the polyelectrolytes.

Recently we introduced the step-by-step deposition through click reaction where the Cu(I) is generated from Cu(II) electrochemically through cyclic-voltametry (G. Rydzel et al. Langmuir 26, 2816 (2010)). Because the Cu(I) is then generated only at the electrode, the reaction can take place only near the electrode. It plays the role of a morphogen. This allowed to propose a one-pot buildup where all the constituents are present simultaneously in the solution and the films builds up exclusively at the interface under the influence of an electrochemical trigger  (G. Rydzel et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 50, 4374 (2011)) . I would like to mention that this work is conducted in very close collaboration with F. Boulmedais and L. Jierry. It is F. Boulmedais who introduced the idea to generate the Cu(I) electrochemically to perform the click step-by-step film construction" Professor Schaaf says.

How do you personally relate to this research?

"We have spent more then ten years investigating Polyelectrolyte Multilayers. The step-by-step deposition process is interesting, yet. Preparing films by mixing all the constituents so that the interaction takes place exclusively at the interface represents a real challenge that we are starting to overcome. The next challenge is to get films that have an internal structure in a one-pot way". 

How does your research fit into a bigger context?

"We are working on several topics. The one that I present during the QCM-D Scientific World Tour is related to self-assembly, but self-assembly that takes place exclusively at the surface. The morphogen driven film buildup also represent a new tool to functionalize nano or micro arrays of electrodes".

When did you first get in contact with QCM-D?

"We have worked with QCM-D for almost ten years. We had one of the first QCM-D instruments. It represents one of our major tools of investigation".

You are giving a talk at the QCM-D Scientific World Tour 2011. Why do you choose to participate in this meeting?

"I choose to participate to the tour because it will give the opportunity to see the new advances in this technique and also to share with other researchers our expertise in the technique," says Professor Schaaf.