Abstract
AbstractLiving anionic surface‐initiated polymerization on flat gold substrates has been conducted to create uniform homopolymer and diblock copolymer brushes. A 1,1‐diphenylethylene (DPE) self‐assembled monolayer was used as the immobilized precursor initiator. n‐BuLi was used to activate the DPE in tetrahydrofuran at –78 °C to initiate the polymerization of different monomers (styrene, isoprene, ethylene oxide, and methyl methacrylate). Poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in particular were first investigated as grafted homopolymers, followed by their copolymers, including poly(isoprene)‐b‐poly(methylmethacrylate) (PI‐b‐PMMA). A combined approach of spectroscopic (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface plasmon spectroscopy, ellipsometry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and microscopic (atomic force microscopy) surface analysis was used to investigate the formation of the polymer brushes in polar solvent media. The chemical nature of the outermost layer of these brushes was studied by water contact angle measurements. The effect of the experimental conditions (solvent, temperature, initiator concentration) on the surface properties of the polymer brushes was also investigated. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 769–782, 2006
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
