Les fibres optiques utilisées pour le transfert d'information présentent des pertes de signal pendant leur propagation. Ainsi, ces signaux ont besoin d'être régulièrement amplifiés. De nos jours, l'Amplification Raman, basée sur le principe de diffusion Raman stimulée, est une des techniques utilisées pour réaliser ces amplifications. Les nanoparticules de métaux nobles ont des propriétés optiques uniques provenant de l'oscillation collective des électrons lorsqu'elles interagissent avec une onde électromagnétique. Ces particules absorbent fortement le champ électromagnétique à une fréquence appelée fréquence de résonance de plasmon de surface. Ce travail de thèse concerne l'influence des nanoparticules métalliques sur l'amélioration de l'Amplification Raman. Il s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet ANR Fenoptic (2010-2012), réunissant l'entreprise Draka et plusieurs laboratoires français (ICB Dijon, CMCP Paris, LPCML Lyon), qui s'intéressent à l'intégration des nanoparticules de métaux nobles à l'intérieur des fibres optiques afin d'utiliser la résonance de plasmon de surface pour améliorer l'efficacité des amplificateurs optiques. Dans ce travail, différentes sources de nanoparticules métalliques ont été examinées (suspensions, couches, préformes de fibre optique). Les expériences ont porté sur la caractérisation (forme et position du plasmon) de nanoparticules de métaux nobles incluses en matrices vitreuses ainsi que sur des mesures de spectroscopie Raman au travers desquelles le phénomène de Diffusion Raman Exaltée de Surface (SERS) a particulièrement été étudié. Pour la première fois, nous avons mis en évidence l'exaltation du signal Raman d'une matrice vitreuse.

Plasmonics techniques, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), have been widely used for chemical and biochemical sensing applications. One approach to excite surface plasmons is through the coupling of light into metallic grating nanostructures. Those grating nanostructures can be fabricated using state-of-the-art nanofabrication methods. Laser interference lithography (LIL) is one of those methods that allow the rapid fabrication of nanostructures with a high-throughput. In this thesis, LIL was combined with other microfabrication techniques, such as photolithography and template stripping, to fabricate different types of plasmonic sensors. Firstly, template stripping was applied to transfer LIL-fabricated patterns of one-dimensional nanogratings onto planar supports (e.g., glass slides and plane-cut optical fiber tips). A thin adhesive layer of epoxy resin was used to facilitate the transfer. The UV-Vis spectroscopic response of the nanogratings supported on glass slides demonstrated a strong dependency on the polarization of the incident light. The bulk refractive index sensitivities of the glass-supported nanogratings were dependent on the type of metal (Ag or Au) and the thickness of the metal film. The described methodology provided an efficient low-cost fabrication alternative to produce metallic nanostructures for plasmonic chemical sensing applications. Secondly, we demonstrated a versatile procedure (LIL either alone or combined with traditional laser photolithography) to prepare both large area (i.e. one inch2) and microarrays (μarrays) of metallic gratings structures capable of supporting SPR excitation (and SERS). The fabrication procedure was simple, high-throughput, and reproducible, with less than 5 % array-to-array variations in geometrical properties. The nanostructured gold μarrays were integrated on a chip for SERS detection of ppm-level of 8-quinolinol, an emerging water-borne pharmaceutical contaminant. Lastly, the LIL-fabricated large area nanogratings have been applied for SERS detection of the mixtures of quinolone antibiotics, enrofloxacin, an approved veterinary antibiotic, and one of its active metabolite, ciprofloxacin. The quantification of these analytes (enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) in aqueous mixtures were achieved by employing chemometric analysis. The limit of quantification of the method described in this work is in the ppm-level, with <10 % SERS spatial variation. Isotope-edited internal calibration method was attempted to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of the SERS methodology. / Graduate / 2018-02-17

Cette recherche porte sur la réalisation, la caractérisation et l'optimisation de surfaces nanostructurées comme substrats pour la spectroscopie Raman exaltée et la résonance de plasmons de surface. Plusieurs voies sont proposées et comparées. La première s'intéresse au greffage de nanoparticules d'or et d'argent sur des supports préalablement fonctionnalisés. Cette approche de type « top-down » nous permet de mettre en évidence les conditions optimales pour obtenir une monocouche homogène et dense de nanoparticules. Les courbes d'extinction et les facteurs d'exaltation sont quantifiés et modélisés avec des temps de fabrication minimisés. La seconde voie étudiée, de type « bottom-up » consiste à synthétiser des nanostructures par dissolution-déposition de films minces d'or ou d'argent, ces derniers étant réalisés par dépôt physique en phase vapeur. Ce procédé s'appuie sur l'optimisation de cycles d'oxydation-réduction qui permet de concevoir successivement des films rugueux et des nanostructures métalliques. La présence de ces nanostructures et de nano cavités sur les substrats est appréciée et mesurée par microscopies à force atomique et à balayage. La limite de détection de molécules par spectrométrie Raman est ainsi évaluée et comparée aux valeurs rapportées dans la littérature. Les conditions optimales déterminées à partir des courbes d'extinction et de diffusion Raman permettent de converger vers un protocole de fabrication fiable et reproductible. Pour finir, le greffage de nanoparticules a été réalisé sur fibres optiques et la sensibilité de la résonance des plasmons de surface localisés (LSPR) est évaluée

The interaction between nanoscience and biomedicine is one of the important developing areas of modern science. The usage of functional nanoparticles with biological molecules provides sensitive and selective detection, labeling and sensing of biomolecules. Until today, several novel types of tagging materials have been used in bioassays, such as plasmon-resonant particles, quantum dots (QDs), and metal nanoshells. However, nowadays, Surface enhanced raman scattering (SERS) tags have been attracting considerable attention as a tagging system. SERS-tags provide high signal enhancement, and they enable multiplex detection of biomolecules due to high specificity. This thesis is focused on the designing proper SERS nanotags for DNA studies. SERS nano-tags are nanostructures consisting of core nanoparticle generally silver, Raman reporter molecule for labeling, and shell to make surface modifications and to prevent deterioration arising from environmental impact. Based on this information, silver core synthesized by thermal decomposition and chemical reduction methods. Thermal decomposition method provides synthesis of silver nanoparticles in hydrophobic medium, resulting in proper silica coating by reverse microemulsion method. On the other hand, silver nanoparticles sythesized by chemical reduction method exhibit hydrophilic property. Due to capping reagents, negatively charged silver nanoparticles could easily attach with positively charged Raman dye which is brilliant cresyl blue (BCB). After addition of Raman active molecule, silica coating process was done by using modified St&ouml / ber method. The resulting particles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) ,UV-vis Spectrometry (UV-vis) and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). In recent years, DNA detection has gained importance for cancer and disease diagnosis and the detection of harmful microorganisms in food and drink. In this study, gene sequences were detected via SERS. For this, probe sequences were labelled with Raman reporter molecule, BCB,and SERS nano-tags and were called as SERGen probes. Then, after hybridization of DNA targets to complementary probe sequences onto gold substrate, SERS peak was followed.

Bringing together several materials into a single nanoparticle is an attractive way to design systems that exhibit diverse physical and chemical properties. Cobalt nanoparticles are extensively used in magnetic separation, ferrofluids, and magnetic storage media. The deposition of gold nanoparticles onto cobalt core significantly affects their optical properties due to the introduction of surface Plasmon. Here the synthesis of gold nanoparticles decorated cobalt-silica nanoparticles are reported for the first time. Their optical and magnetic properties and capacity as a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate were investigated. This nano-material is of particular interest as a dual agent allowing both magnetic separation and SERS detection. The synthesis involves three steps: i) synthesis of Co nanoparticles / ii) deposition of a silica shell around the Co core and introduction of amine functional groups on the surface / iii) decoration of the surface with gold nanoparticles. Co nanoparticles were prepared in an inert atmosphere in the presence of capping and reducing agents. Size of the cobalt nanoparticles was varied by changing the concentration of the capping agent. Since cobalt particles are easily oxidized, they were coated with silica shell both to prevent oxidation and allow further functionalization. Silica coating of the particles were performed in water/ethanolic solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Thickness of silica coating was controlled by varying the concentrations of TEOS. Besides, by adding 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTS) to the reaction medium, primarily amine groups were introduced on the silica surface. For further modifications citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles were appended onto the surface of amine modified core-shell cobalt-silica nanoparticles. Gold decorated magnetic core-shell structures were used as SERS substrate with Raman dyes / brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) and rhodamine 6G (R6G). They were also utilized for preconcentration and SERS detection of 4-mercapto benzoic acid (4-MBA). Gold nanoparticles on the silica and thiol group on the 4-MBA were very selective to each other, thus, 4-MBA could be attached on to gold surface and it could be easily separated magnetically from the reaction medium and identified by Raman spectroscopy. Characterization of the cobalt, cobalt-silica and gold modified cobalt-silica nanoparticles was done by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Scanning-Transmission Electron Microscopy (S-TEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), UV-Vis spectrometry, and Raman microscope system.

Metal nanostructures exhibit a wide variety of interesting physical and chemical properties, which can be tailored by altering their size, morphology, composition, and environment. Gold and silver nanostructures have received considerable attention for many decades because of their widespread use in applications such as catalysis, photonics, electronics, optoelectronics, information storage, chemical and biological sensing, surface plasmon resonance and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. This thesis is composed of three main parts about the synthesis, characterization and SERS applications of shape-controlled and surface modified noble metal nanoparticles. The first part is related to a simple synthesis of shape controlled solid gold, hollow gold, silver, gold-silver core-shell, hollow gold-silver double-shell nanoparticles by applying aqueous solution chemistry. Nanoparticles obtained were used for SERS detection of dye molecules like brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) and crystal violet (CV) in aqueous system. v The second part involves the synthesis of surface modified silver nanoparticles for the detection of dopamine (DA) molecules. Determination of a dopamine molecule attached to a iron-nitrilotriaceticacid modified silver (Ag-Fe(NTA)) nanoparticles by using surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) was achieved. The Ag-Fe (NTA) substrate provided reproducibility and excellent sensitivity. Experimental results showed that DA was detected quickly and accurately without any pretreatment in nM levels with excellent discrimination against ascorbic acid (AA) (which was among the lowest value reported in direct SERS detection of DA). In the third part, a lanthanide series ion (Eu3+) containing silver nanoparticle was prepared for constructing a molecular recognition SERS substrate for the first time. The procedure reported herein, provides a simple way of achieving reproducible and sensitive SERS spectroscopy for organophosphates (OPP) detection. The sensing of the target species was confirmed by the appearance of an intense SERS signal of the methyl phosphonic acid (MPA), a model compound for nonvolatile organophosphate nerve agents, which bound to the surface of the Ag-Eu3+ nanostructure. The simplicity and low cost of the overall process makes this procedure a potential candidate for analytical control processes of nerve agents.

Raman spectroscopy offers much better spectral selectivity but its usage has been limited by its poor sensitivity. The discovery of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect, which results in increased sensitivities of up to 108-fold for some compounds, has eliminated this drawback. A new SERS active substrate was developed in this study. Silver nanoparticle-doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coated SERS substrate prepared through chemical and electrochemical reduction of silver particles dispersed in the polymer matrix. Performances of the substrates were evaluated with some biologically important compounds. The specific detection of DNA has gained significance in recent years since increasingly DNA sequences of different organisms are being assigned. Such sequence knowledge can be employed for identification of the genes of microorganisms or diseases. In this study, specific proteasome gene sequences were detected both label free spectrophotometric detection and SERS detection. In label free spectrophotometic detection, proteasome gene probe and complementary target gene sequence were attached to the gold nanoparticles separately. Then, the target and probe oligonucleotide-modified gold solutions were mixed for hybridization and the shift in the surface plasmon absorption band of gold nanoparticles were followed. SERS detection of specific nucleic acid sequences are mainly based on hybridization of DNA targets to complementary probe sequences, which are labelled with SERS active dyes. In this study, to show correlation between circulating proteasome levels and disease state we suggest a Raman spectroscopic technique that uses SERGen probes. This novel approach deals with specific detection of elevated or decreased levels of proteasome genes&rsquo / transcription in patients as an alternative to available enzyme activity measurement methods. First, SERGen probes were prepared using SERS active labels and specific proteasome gene sequences. Then DNA targets to complementary SERGen probe sequences were hybridized and SERS active label peak was followed.

Gold nanoparticle has emerged as an attractive platform for drug delivery applications by complementing the existing drug delivery carriers. Currently, only a few gold nanoparticle-based anticancer drug delivery systems have been reported, compared to the polymer-based delivery systems. Additionally, there is still a lack of understanding for the behavior and fate of the gold-drug conjugate in the body that further attention is required. The overall goal of this thesis is to investigate the in vivo behavior of colloidal gold nanoparticle and its therapeutic efficacy in an animal model, especially in a drug delivery application. To achieve this goal, we investigated the feasibility of using colloidal gold nanoparticle as an anticancer agent delivery vehicle for treatment of cancer. Then, long-term clearance, toxicity, and biodistribution of colloidal gold nanoparticle were studied to further aid in understanding of using colloidal gold nanoparticle as a drug delivery platform. In particular, two representative sizes of gold nanoparticles, 5nm and 60nm, were investigated for the size effect on the therapeutic efficacy, toxicity, biodistribution, and clearance in cancer nanotherapy. We believe that nanoparticle size plays a critical role in not only delivering the drug to the target site but also determining the in vivo behavior such as biodistribution and clearance. By choosing an appropriate size scale for the system, we successfully used the small-sized gold nanoparticles for drug delivery applications, which also displayed no apparent toxicity with desirable clearance from the biological system. This work is significant by providing an insight on a potential ideal candidate for drug delivery carrier for cancer nanotherapy.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit werden zwei Perylen-Derivate als Zwischenschichten in Ag/organischen Schichten/GaAs(100)-Heterostrukturen eingesetzt, um den Einfluss von unterschiedlichen chemischen Endgruppen auf die chemischen und strukturellen Eigenschaften beider Grenzflächen, sowie auf die Morphologie, Struktur und Kristallinität von organischen Schichten zu charakterisieren. Die molekularen Schichten von 3,4,9,10-Perylentetracarbonsäure Dianhydrid (PTCDA) und Dimethyl-3,4,9,10-Perylentetracarbonsäure Diimid (DiMe-PTCDI) werden durch organische Molekularstrahldeposition (OMBD) im Ultrahochvakuum auf S-passivierten GaAs(100):2x1-Substraten hergestellt. Weiterhin wird der Einfluss des Substrats untersucht, indem PTCDA-Wachstum auf H-passiviertem Si(100):1x1 durchgeführt wird. Als Hauptcharakterisierungsmethode wird die Ramanspektroskopie eingesetzt. Diese ist eine nicht-destruktive Methode, die auch in situ Untersuchungen des Wachstumsprozesses ermöglicht. Die komplementäre Infrarotspektroskopie sowie die Rasterkraftmikroskopie, Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und Röntgenbeugung (XRD) werden zur Ergänzung des Verständnisses der Heterostruktureigenschaften verwendet. Die Empfindlichkeit von Raman- und Infrarot-Spektroskopien auf die chemisch unterschiedlichen Endgruppen wird durch experimentelle Untersuchungen an PTCDA- und DiMe-PTCDI-Kristallen, beziehungsweise dicken Schichten und mit Hilfe theoretischer Berechnungen nachgewiesen. So wird zum ersten Mal eine vollständige Zuordnung der Schwingunsfrequenzen zu den internen Schwingungsmoden von DiMe-PTCDI vorgeschlagen. Im niedrigen Frequenzbereich der Ramanspektren werden die externen molekularen Schwingungsmoden, oder molekularen „Phononen“, die eine Signatur der Kristallinität darstellen, beobachtet. Die Phononen von DiMe-PTCDI werden in dieser Arbeit zum ersten Mal in einem Ramanexperiment beobachtet. Mittels resonanter Ramanspektroskopie wird die Detektion von C-H-Deformationsmoden und C-C-Streckmoden sogar im Sub-Monolagenbereich molekularer Bedeckung auf Halbleiteroberflächen möglich. Anhand dieser Ramanspektren konnte die Art der Wechselwirkung zwischen Molekülen und passivierten Oberflächen näher charakterisiert werden. Zusätzliche Information bringen die GaAs LO- und Plasmon-gekoppelten LO- Phononen, deren Intensitätsverhältnis im Ramanspektrum die Bandverbiegung im GaAs-Substrat widerspiegelt. Die Kristallinität der hergestellten organischen Schichten mit Dicken größer als 2 nm wird durch Beobachtung der molekularen „Phononen“ nachgewiesen. Als allgemeine Tendenz konnte bewiesen werden, dass mit steigender Substrattemperatur während des Wachstums größere Kristalldomänen entstehen. Weiterhin wird eine Methode vorgeschlagen, um den Anteil von zwei PTCDA- Kristallphasen mit ähnlichen Gitterparametern anhand der Raman- beziehungsweise XRD-Spektren zu bestimmen. Durch ihre sehr gute Ordnung können die DiMe-PTCDI- Schichten als Modellsystem dienen, um eine Methode zu entwickeln, die die Molekülorientierung im Bezug zum Substrat aus polarisationsabhängigen Raman- und Infrarotmessungen bestimmt. Bei der Metall-Bedampfung wird die Empfindlichkeit der Ramanstreuung an internen molekularen Schwingungsmoden von PTCDA und DiMe-PTCDI-Schichten durch oberflächenverstärkte Ramanstreuung (SERS) erhöht. Anhand der unterschiedlichen Signalverstärkungsmechanismen werden Informationen über die Ag/Molekül- Wechselwirkung und die Morphologie der Ag-Schichten abgeleitet.

Die Elektrochemie und die Spektroelektrochemie von Nitroanilinen (ortho-, meta- und para- Isomere) und deren entsprechenden Diaminoverbindungen (ortho-, meta- und para-Phenylendiamin) wurden an zwei verschiedenen Elektroden (Platin und Gold) und in zwei Elektrolytlösungen (saure und neutrale Perchloratlösung) untersucht. Die erhaltenen Messergebnisse wurden als Referenz für die spektroelektrochemische Untersuchung von Polyvinylaminen mit o- oder p- Nitroanilinsubstituenten verwendet. Es wurden außerdem spektroelektrochemische Untersuchungen mit anderen Polyvinylaminen, die das Wurster Kationradikal oder Stilbene als Substituenten enthalten, durchgeführt. Die oxidative und reduktive Elektrochemie von drei Nitroanilinisomeren wurde in neutraler (0.1 M KClO4) und saurer (0.1 M HClO4) wässriger Elektrolytlösung mit zyklischer Voltammetrie und oberflächenverstärkter Ramanspektroskopie (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy SERS) untersucht. Die zyklischen Voltammogramme, die mit einer Goldelektrode in saurer Elektrolytlösung für o- und p-Nitroanilin aufgezeichnet wurden, zeigten die Bildung von o- und p-Phenylendiamin beim Potenzialdurchlauf in kathodischer Richtung. In neutraler Elektrolytlösung ist die Situation anders und die Endprodukte der elektrochemischen Reduktion dieser Isomere sind o- und p- Amino-N-phenylhydroxylamin. Aus den zyklischen Voltammogrammen, die mit Gold- und Platinelektroden bei anodischem Potenzialdurchlauf für diese Isomere in saurer und neutraler Elektrolytlösung aufgezeichnet wurden, erhält man folgende Reihenfolge für die Lage der Oxidationspotentiale m-Nitroanilin > p-Nitroanilin > o-Nitroanilin. Eine Sauerstoff-Gold-Adsorbat- Streckschwingung wurde zwischen 400 und 430 cm-1 in den SER-Spektren der drei isomeren Nitroaniline in beiden Elektrolytlösungen bei positiven Elektrodenpotenzialen beobachtet. Das SERS-Experiment zeigte auch eine senkrechte Orientierung der adsorbierten Nitroaniline zur Oberfläche der Goldelektrode. Für die isomeren Phenylendiamine wurde in beiden Elektrolytlösungen und mit beiden Elektroden im anodischen Durchlauf das gleiche Verhalten beobachtet. Das beim Ein- Elektronenübergang erhaltene Oxidationsprodukt (Radikalkation) reagiert im Fall von o- und m- Phenylendiamin über eine C-N-Kopplung mit einem weiteren Radikal zum Dimer (1.Schritt der Elektropolymerisation). p-Phenylendiamin wird nach dem ECE-Mechanismus (E = Elektronentransfer, C = chemische Reaktion) oxidiert, wobei die Ladungsübertragung in zwei Schritten erfolgt, gekoppelt mit Säure-Base-Reaktionen, was zur Bildung des Diimin führt. Aus den SERS-Messungen kann man schlussfolgern, dass m- und p-Phenylendiamin waagerecht zur Metalloberfläche über den Benzenring und die Stickstoffatome adsorbiert sind. Die Adsorption von o-Phenylendiamin erfolgt über die Stickstoffatome und mit schräger Orientierung zur Metalloberfläche. Die zyklischen Voltammogramme, die mit einer Goldelektrode in saurer und neutraler Elektrolytlösung von den Polyvinylaminen mit Nitroanilinsubstituenten aufgenommen wurden, zeigen dasselbe Verhalten wie Nitroanilinmonomere beim Potenzialdurchlauf in kathodischer Richtung. Die für diese Polymere im anodischen Durchlauf erhaltenen Zyklovoltammogramme unterscheiden sich von denen für die Monomere. Die Zahl der Adsorptionsplätze und die Adsorptionsstärke der Polyvinylamine verändern sich in Abhängigkeit vom Elektrodenpotential, vom Prozentsatz und der Art des aromatischen Substituenten am Polymerrückgrat und vom pH-Wert der Lösung. / The electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of nitroanilines (ortho, meta, and para isomers) and their respective amino compounds (ortho-, meta- and paraphenylenediamines) have been investigated at two different electrodes (platinum and gold) and in two different electrolyte solutions (acidic and neutral perchlorate). The results of these investigations were used as a reference for the spectroelectrochemistry of polyvinylamines containing o- or p-nitroaniline substituents. Spectroelectrochemical investigations of polyvinylamine containing Wurster radical cation or stilbene as a substituent were also carried out. The oxidative and reductive electrochemistry of the three isomeric nitroanilines has been studied in neutral (0.1 M KClO4) and acidic (0.1 M HClO4) aqueous electrolyte solutions with cyclic voltammetry and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold electrode in acidic electrolyte solution showed formation of o- and p-phenylenediamine in the negative going potential scan for o- and pnitroaniline respectively. In neutral electrolyte solution the situation is different and the final products of electrochemical reduction of these isomers are o- and p-amino-Nphenylhydroxylamine. The order of increasing electrochemical oxidation potential is mnitroaniline > p-nitroaniline > o-nitroaniline as observed from cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold and platinum electrodes and in the positive going potentials scan for these isomers in acidic and neutral electrolyte solutions. An oxygen-gold adsorbate stretching mode was detected between 400 to 430 cm-1 in SER-spectra of the three isomeric nitroanilines in both electrolyte solutions at positive electrode potentials. The SERS experiments showed also a perpendicular orientation of adsorbed nitroanilines on a gold electrode with respect to the metal surface. General trends are observed in the anodic scans of isomeric phenylenediamines at both electrodes and in both electrolyte solutions. The one-electron electrochemical oxidation product (radical cation) in case of o- and m-phenylenediamine go into fast C-N coupling between radicals to form dimers (the first step of electropolymerization). The pphenylenediamine is oxidized according to an ECE mechanism (E = electron transfer reaction, C = chemical reaction), which involved two charge transfer steps coupled with acidbase reactions to form diimine. As we deduced from SERS measurements, m- and p-phenylenediamine adsorbed in flat orientation with respect to the metal surface via benzene ring and nitrogen atoms, respectively. o-Phenylenediamine adsorption is taking place via nitrogen atoms and with tilted orientation with respect to the metal surface. The cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold electrode in acidic and neutral electrolyte solutions of polyvinylamines containing o- or p-nitroaniline substituents exhibit the same features like nitroaniline monomers in the negative going potentials scan. The result observed in the anodic scan for these polymers are different from those observed for monomers. Adsorption site and strength of the polyvinylamine polymer varies according to the applied electrode potential, percentage and type of the aromatic substituent at the polymer backbone, and the pH of the medium.