Electroless Metallization of Glass Surfaces Functionalized by Silanization and Graft Polymerization of Aniline

Abstract

Silanization of glass surfaces by (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPS) provided a surface-coupled layer of functional molecules for the subsequent reaction with aniline (An). The so-modified glass surface (the An−GPS−glass surface) was then subjected to oxidative graft polymerization of aniline. The composition and microstructure of the modified glass surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV−visible absorption spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The protonation−deprotonation behavior, the interconvertible intrinsic redox states, and the spontaneous metal reduction behavior of the grafted polyaniline (PANI) chains on the glass surface (the PANI−An−GPS−glass surface) were similar to those of the PANI homopolymer. The PANI−An−GPS−glass surface with the electrolessly deposited palladium could be used to catalyze the electroless deposition of copper (the Cu−Pd−PANI−An−GPS−glass surface). The spatial distribution of the grafted PANI chains into the matrix of th...