Molecular restructuring at poly(n-butyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate) surfaces due to compression by a sapphire prism studied by infrared-visible sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

Infrared-visible sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy, performed in visible wavelength total internal reflection (TIR) geometry, was used to determine the molecular structures of poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces in air and in contact with a smooth sapphire surface with and without the application of pressure. C-H vibrational resonances were probed optically to nondestructively examine the buried polymer/sapphire interfaces and obtain information about the molecular orientation in situ. These findings are contrasted with those of the same polymers cast from a toluene solution directly on the sapphire prism surface and annealed. Compared to polymer surface conformation in air, the SFG spectra of the deformed (compressed) PBMA at the sapphire interface illustrate that the ester butyl side chain restructures and tilts away from the surface normal. However, the molecular conformation in the similarly deformed PMMA at the sapphire interface is identical to that obtained in air, which is dominated by the upright-oriented ester methyl side chains. For PBMA and PMMA spin cast on sapphire and annealed, the surface structure of the undeformed PBMA at the sapphire interface is identical to that of the deformed PBMA at the sapphire interface, while the PMMA conformation is different and shows alpha-methyl group ordering. Since the glass transition temperature of PBMA is below room temperature, the rubbery state of PBMA demonstrates a melt-like behavior, evidenced by the fact that PBMA is in conformation chemical equilibrium at the sapphire surface even under compression. Due to the high glass transition temperature of PMMA, compression freezes PMMA in a metastable state, revealed by the restructured molecular conformation when annealed against the sapphire surface. The results of this study demonstrate that structural changes at buried polymer surfaces due to the application of contact pressure can be detected in situ by TIR-SFG vibrational spectroscopy.     

Surface plasma treatment effects on the molecular structure at polyimide/air and buried polyimide/epoxy interfaces

Polyimides are widely used as chip passivation layers and organic substrates in microelectronic packaging. Plasma treatment has been used to enhance the interfacial properties of polyimides, but its molecularmechanism is not clear. In this research, the effects of polyimide surface plasma treatment on the molecular structures at corresponding polyimide/air and buried polyimide/epoxy interfaces were investigated in situ using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. SFG results show that the polyimide backbone molecular structure was different at polyimide/air and polyimide/epoxy interfaces before and after plasma treatment. The different molecular structures at each interface indicate that structural reordering of the polyimide backbone occurred as a result of plasma treatment and contact with the epoxy adhesive. Furthermore, quantitative orientation analysis indicated that plasma treatment of polyimide surfaces altered the twist angle of the polyimide backbone at corresponding buried polyimide/epoxy interfaces. These SFG results indicate that plasma treatment of polymer surfaces can alter the molecular structure at corresponding polymer/air and buried polymer interfaces.     

Polymer surface science

Molecular level studies of the structure and mechanical properties of polymer surfaces have been carried out by sum frequency generation (SFG) surface vibrational spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surfaces of different grades of polyethylene and polypropylene have been characterized-including during the glass transition and when mechanically stretched. Copolymers that have hard and soft segments with different glass transition temperatures show phase separation, an effect of hydrogen bonding between the hard and soft segments, that influences their adhesive and friction properties. AFM and SFG show that low surface energy additives migrate to the surface and alter the surface mechanical properties. Polymers, where the chemical nature of the end groups is different from the backbone, show surface segregation of the hydrophobic part of the chain in air and the hydrophilic part in water. Likewise, in miscible polymer blends, surface segregation of the more hydrophobic component in air and the more hydrophilic component in water is observed. This area of surface science requires increased attention because of the predominance of polymers as structural materials and as biomaterials.     

Adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate at the hydrophobic solid/aqueous solution interface in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol): dependence upon polymer molecular weight

The polar orientation and degree of conformational order of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) adsorbed at the hydrophobic octadecanethiol/aqueous solution interface in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been investigated as a function of the surfactant concentration and the molecular weight of the polymer. Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was employed to obtain spectra of interfacial surfactant; weak SFG signals from interfacial polymer were also detected for polymer molecular weights of 900 and above. The phase of the SFG spectra indicated that both the surfactant and polymer had a net orientation of their CH2 and/or CH3 groups toward the hydrophobic surface. Spectra of SDS in the presence of mixed polymer/surfactant solutions showed increasing conformational order as the surfactant concentration was raised. At the lowest surfactant concentrations, the spectra of SDS were weaker in the presence of the polymer than in its absence. All PEG molecular weights investigated, with the exception of PEG 400, gave rise to significant inhibition of ordered surfactant adsorption below the critical micelle concentration. The greatest inhibitory effect was noted for PEG 900. Probing interfacial PEG specifically through the use of perdeuterated SDS revealed that the polymer spectral intensity decreased monotonically as the surfactant concentration was increased for all polymer molecular weights where a PEG spectrum was apparent. These findings are interpreted in terms of the displacement of preadsorbed polymer as the surfactant concentration increases. This result is compatible with observations of adsorption from SDS/PEG solutions at solid/solution and solution/air interfaces made using other techniques.     

Electronic and conformational properties of the conjugated polymer MEH-PPV at a buried film/solid interface investigated by two-dimensional IR-visible sum frequency generation

We present the first measurement of the buried surface electronic states of the conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) using two-dimensional (2D) IR-visible sum frequency generation (SFG). SFG electronic spectra were obtained by scanning the frequencies of both incident visible and IR beams and used to study the surface electronic transitions associated with the C-C stretching of benzene rings located at the backbone of MEH-PPV. Because of the surface confinement effects, the polymer conformation, and consequently the electronic states, at the film/solid interface are different from those of the bulk film. Theoretical analysis based on an oligomer model was employed to estimate the conjugation-length distributions of MEH-PPV at interfaces. Assuming a Gaussian conjugation-length distribution, it was found that the conjugation-length distribution at the MEH-PPV/solid interface was centered at 5.8 monomer units. Similar surface effects were also observed at the air/polymer interface, with a shorter average conjugation length of 5.1 monomer units.     

Structure of poly(methyl methacrylate) chains adsorbed on sapphire probed using infrared-visible sum frequency generation spectroscopy

We have studied the orientation of the train segments of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) adsorbed layer at the CCl4-sapphire interface using surface-sensitive IR-visible sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. The SFG spectra of PMMA chains adsorbed on sapphire indicate ordered ester methyl groups. In comparison, we did not observe any significant contributions from the backbone methylene and alpha methyl groups, suggesting that these groups are disordered. No change in the structure of the adsorbed layer is observed upon cooling the solvent below the theta temperature; this is consistent with the picture of flat adsorbed chains on the surface. Interestingly, the orientation of the ester methyl groups of a spin-coated PMMA film at the PMMA-sapphire interface is similar to that of the same groups in the chains adsorbed from solution.     

和频振动光谱(SFG-VS)研究超铺展三甲基硅烷表面活性剂在空气/水界面的振动光谱和吸附

The C-H stretch vibrational spectra of the trisiloxane superspreading surfactant Silwet L-77((CH3)3Si-O-Si(CH3)(C3H6)(OCH2CH2)7-8OCH3)-O-Si(CH3)3) at the air/water interface are measured with the surface Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy (SFG-VS). The spectra are dominated with the features from the –Si-CH3 groups around 2905 cm-1 (symmetric stretch or SS mode) and 2957 cm-1 (mostly the asymmetric stretch or AS mode), and with the weak but apparent contribution from the -O-CH2- groups around 2880 cm-1 (symmetric stretch or SS mode). Comparison of the polarization dependent SFG spectra below and above the critical aggregate or micelle concentration (CAC) indicates that the molecular orientation of the C¡H related molecular groups remained unchanged at different surface densities of the Silwet L-77 surfactant. The SFG-VS adsorption isotherm suggested that there was no sign of Silwet L-77 bilayer structure formation at the air/water interface. The Gibbs adsorption free energy of the Silwet surfactant to the air/water interface is -42.2±0.8kJ/mol, indicating the unusually strong adsorption ability of the Silwet L-77 superspreading surfactant     

Demonstrating the feasibility of monitoring the molecular-level structures of moving polymer/silane interfaces during silane diffusion using SFG

In this paper, the feasibility of monitoring molecular structures at a moving polymer/liquid interface by sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy has been demonstrated. N-(2-Aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AATM, NH2(CH2)2NH(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3) has been brought into contact with a deuterated poly(methyl methacrylate) (d-PMMA) film, and the interfacial silane structure has been monitored using SFG. Upon initial contact, the SFG spectra can be detected, but as time progresses, the spectral intensity changes and finally disappears. Additional experiments indicate that these silane molecules can diffuse into the polymer film and the detected SFG signals are actually from the moving polymer/silane interface. Our results show that the molecular order of the polymer/silane interface exists during the entire diffusion process and is lost when the silane molecules traverse through the thickness of the d-PMMA film. The loss of the SFG signal is due to the formation of a new disordered substrate/silane interface, which contributes no detectable SFG signal. The kinetics of the diffusion of the silane into the polymer have been deduced from the time-dependent SFG signals detected from the AATM molecules as they diffuse through polymer films of different thickness.     

Contact of oil with solid surfaces in aqueous media probed using sum frequency generation spectroscopy

We have studied the interface between hexadecane droplets and sapphire substrates in water using infrared-visible sum frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG). At high pH and above the isoelectric point of the sapphire substrate, the hexadecane drop is repelled due to electrostatic forces. The SFG measurements are consistent with the observation that a thick layer of water is present between the oil and the sapphire substrate. Below the isoelectric point of the sapphire substrate, the hexadecane drops stick to the sapphire surface. Surprisingly, the SFG results show the presence of a thin layer of water between hexadecane drop and the sapphire substrate. At this contact interface, we observe contributions to the SFG signal from both the hexadecane/water and water/sapphire interfaces. The reasons for the presence of a thin water layer with adhesive contact can be explained due to weaker repulsive double layer and the attractive van der Waals interactions.     

Adsorption of 1- and 2-butylimidazoles at the copper/air and steel/air interfaces studied by sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

The structure of thin films of 1- and 2-butylimidazoles adsorbed on copper and steel surfaces under air was examined using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy in the ppp and ssp polarizations. Additionally, the SFG spectra of both isomers were recorded at 55 °C at the liquid imidazole/air interface for reference. Complementary bulk infrared, reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), and Raman spectra of both imidazoles were recorded for assignment purposes. The SFG spectra in the C-H stretching region at the liquid/air interface are dominated by resonances from the methyl end group of the butyl side chain of the imidazoles, indicating that they are aligned parallel or closely parallel to the surface normal. These are also the most prominent features in the SFG spectra on copper and steel. In addition, both the ppp and ssp spectra on copper show resonances from the C-H stretching modes of the imidazole ring for both isomers. The ring C-H resonances are completely absent from the spectra on steel and at the liquid/air interface. The relative intensities of the SFG spectra can be interpreted as showing that, on copper, under air, both butylimidazoles are adsorbed with their butyl side chains perpendicular to the interface and with the ring significantly inclined away from the surface plane and toward the surface normal. The SFG spectra of both imidazoles on steel indicate an orientation where the imidazole rings are parallel or nearly parallel to the surface. The weak C-H resonances from the ring at the liquid/air interface suggest that the tilt angle of the ring from the surface normal at this interface is significantly greater than it is on copper.     

Two-color sum frequency generation study of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene)/electrode interfaces

The air/PFO and the buried electrode/PFO interfaces have been investigated by two-color SFG spectroscopy. Due to the interface confinement effects, the planes of PFO rings are nearly parallel to the surface plane, and the optical band gaps become smaller at the interfaces than those of the bulk.     

Surface segregation of polypeptide-based block copolymer micelles: An approach to engineer nanostructured and stimuli responsive surfaces

We describe the surface segregation of polypeptide-based block copolymer micelles to produce stimuli-responsive nanostructures at the polymer blend/air interface. Such structures were obtained by simultaneous surface migration and self assembly at the surface of diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends. We employed blends composed of homopolymer (PS) and an amphiphilic block copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) (PS-b-PGA). The surface was functionalized based on the preferential segregation to the polymer blend/air interface of the hydrophilic PGA block of the diblock copolymer upon annealing to water vapor. The surface migration of the diblock copolymer to the interface was demonstrated both by XPS and contact angle measurements. As a consequence, the PGA interfacial attraction leads to a large surface excess on diblock copolymer which in turn, through macrophase and microphase separation, produced separated domains at the surface with regions composed either of homo or block copolymer. Herein we demonstrate that the use of asymmetric diblock copolymers with a higher content in PS lead to spherical micellar assemblies randomly distributed at the surface. As observed by AFM imaging the blend composition, i.e. the amount of block copolymer within the blend influences the density of micelles at the surface. Finally, when exposed to water, the pH affects the surface morphology. The PGA segments are collapsed at low pH values and extended at pH values above 4.8, thus inducing variations on the topography of the films at the nanometer scale.     

Surface structures and properties of polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends and copolymers

Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy has been applied to study the molecular surface structures of polystyrene (PS)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends and the copolymer between PS and PMMA (PS-co-PMMA) in air, supplemented by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle goniometer. Both the blend and the copolymer have equal weight amounts of the two components. SFG results show that both components, PS and PMMA, can segregate to the surface of the blend and the copolymer before annealing, although PMMA has a slightly higher surface tension. Upon annealing both SFG results and contact angle measurements indicate that the PS segregates to the surface of the PS/PMMA blend more but no change occurs on the PS-co-PMMA surface. AFM images show that the copolymer surface is flat but the 1:1 PS/PMMA blend has a rougher surface with island like domains present. The annealing effect on the blend surface morphology has also been investigated. We collected amide SFG signals from interfacial fibrinogen molecules at the copolymer or blend/protein solution interfaces as a function of time. Different time-dependent SFG signal changes have been observed, showing that different surfaces of the blend and the copolymer mediate fibrinogen adsorption behavior differently.     

Structure and vibrational spectroscopy of salt water/air interfaces: predictions from classical molecular dynamics simulations

We report the sum frequency generation (SFG) spectra of aqueous sodium iodide interfaces computed with the methodology outlined by Morita and Hynes (J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 673), which is based on molecular dynamics simulations. The calculated spectra are in qualitative agreement with experiment. Our simulations show that the addition of sodium iodide to water leads to an increase in SFG intensity in the region of 3400 cm(-1), which is correlated with an increase in ordering of hydrogen-bonded water molecules. Depth-resolved orientational distribution functions suggest that the ion double layer orders water molecules that are approximately one water layer below the Gibbs dividing surface. We attribute the increase in SFG intensity to these ordered subsurface water molecules that are present in the aqueous sodium iodide/air interfaces but are absent in the neat water/air interface.     

Sum frequency generation studies at poly(ethylene terephthalate)/silane interfaces: hydrogen bond formation and molecular conformation determination

To better understand the effects of interfacial molecular orientation on adhesion to plastics, the interfaces between poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and different silane coupling agents were probed using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. The polymer/air interface was dominated by the ester carbonyl, methylene, and phenyl groups. Upon contacting the PET film with the amino-functional silane 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (ATMS), the ester carbonyl stretch shifted to a lower energy indicating the formation of hydrogen bonds between the polymer surface and the silane molecules. This shift was not observed when silanes that contained no hydrogen bond donors, such as (3-glycidoxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane and n-butyltrimethoxysilane, were placed into contact with the PET surface. Further evidence of silane ordering at the interface was observed as vibrational peaks attributed to the C-H stretching of the silane methoxy headgroups dominated the PET/silane spectra. It was determined that the conformation of the ATMS molecules at the interface was such that the amino endgroups were oriented toward the interface while the methoxy headgroups were directed toward the silane bulk.     

Changes in thermodynamic interactions at highly immiscible polymer/polymer interfaces due to deuterium labeling

Deuterium labeling has been shown previously to affect thermodynamic interactions at polymer surfaces, polymer/polymer heterogeneous interfaces, and in bulk (away from a surface or interface). However, the changes in polymer-polymer interactions due to deuterium labeling have not been thoroughly investigated for highly immiscible systems. It is shown here that deuterium labeling can influence polymer-polymer interactions at heterogeneous interfaces with highly immiscible systems, namely, polystyrene/poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS/P2VP), polystyrene/poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS/P4VP), and polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS/PMMA). Using secondary ion mass spectrometry, segregation of deuterium labeled polystyrene (dPS) in a dPS + unlabeled PS (dPS:hPS) blend layer was observed at the dPS:hPS/hP2VP, dPS:hPS/hP4VP, and dPS:hPS/hPMMA heterogeneous interfaces. However, a reference system involving PS on a PS brush shows no segregation of dPS to the interface.     

Headgroup effect on silane structures at buried polymer/silane and polymer/polymer interfaces and their relations to adhesion

Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to study the effect of silane headgroups on the molecular interactions that occur between poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and various epoxy silanes at the PET/silane and PET/silicone interfaces. Three different silanes were investigated: (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (γ-GPS), (3-glycidoxypropyl) methyl-dimethoxysilane (γ-GPMS), and (3-glycidoxypropyl) dimethyl-methoxysilane (γ-GPDMS). These silanes share the same backbone and epoxy end group but have different headgroups. SFG was used to examine the interfaces between PET and each of these silanes, as well as silanes mixed with methylvinylsiloxanol (MVS). We also examined the interfaces between PET and uncured or cured silicone with silanes or silane-MVS mixtures. Silanes with different headgroups were found to exhibit a variety of methoxy group interfacial segregation and ordering behaviors at various interfaces. The effect of MVS was also dependent upon silane headgroup choice, and the interfacial molecular structures of silane methoxy headgroups were found to differ at PET/silane and PET/silicone interfaces. Epoxy silanes have been widely used as adhesion promoters for polymer adhesives; therefore, the molecular structures probed using SFG were correlated to adhesion testing results to understand the molecular mechanisms of silicone-polymer adhesion. Our results demonstrated that silane methoxy headgroups play important roles in adhesion at the PET/silicone interfaces. The presence of MVS can change interfacial methoxy segregation and ordering, leading to different adhesion strengths.     

Vibrational sum-frequency generation at protein modified air–water interfaces: Effects of molecular structure and surface charging

Protein and surfactant modified air–water interfaces are an important model system for colloid science as many applications for example aqueous foams in food products rely on our knowledge and ability to tune molecular structures at these interfaces. That is because interfaces are a fundamental building block in the hierarchical structure of foam, where in fact the molecular level can determine properties on larger length scales. For that reason it is of great importance to increase our ability to study air–water interfaces with molecular level probes and to obtain not only information on coverage but also direct information on interfacial composition, molecular order, orientations as well as information on the charged state of an interface. Vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) is a powerful tool that can help to address these issues and is inherently surface sensitive. In this contribution we will review recent developments in the use of SFG for studies of biomolecules at aqueous interfaces and discuss current issues with the interpretation of SFG spectra from electrified interfaces. In order to guide interpretations from interface spectroscopy we invoke the use of complementary methods such as ellipsometry and zetapotential measurements of bulk molecules.     

Adsorption of SDS and PEG on calcium fluoride studied by sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

The adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) from aqueous solution onto a calcium fluoride substrate (CaF(2)), in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights, has been investigated using the interface specific nonlinear optical technique of sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. Spectra of adsorbed SDS (in the C-H stretching region) were recorded at the surface of a CaF(2) prism in contact with SDS solutions at concentrations up to the cmc (8 mM) of the pure surfactant and in contact with binary solutions containing SDS and PEG with molecular weights from 400 to 12 000. In contrast with SFG spectra from the same combinations of surfactant and polymer on a hydrophobic surface, there was no evidence of spectra arising from the actual polymer adsorbed on CaF(2) at any polymer molecular weight either in the absence or presence of surfactant. However, there was indirect evidence for the presence of adsorbed polymer from changes in the SDS SFG spectra in the presence of polymer compared with spectra when the polymer was absent. The SFG spectra of SDS at 0.8 mM were closely similar to each other at all polymer molecular weights and different from the spectra in the absence of the polymer. The spectral differences between the polymer present and polymer absent was much smaller when the solution concentration of surfactant was 8 mM.     

Infrared-visible sum frequency generation spectroscopic study of molecular orientation at polystyrene/comb-polymer interfaces

Surface-sensitive infrared-visible sum frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) in total internal reflection geometry has been used to study the structure of poly(vinyl n-octadecyl carbamate-co-vinyl acetate) (PVNODC) or poly(octadecyl acrylate) (PA-18) in contact with a deuterated or hydrogenated polystyrene (dPS or hPS) layer. SFG spectra from the PVNODC (or PA-18)/hPS interface show methyl and methylene peaks corresponding to PVNODC (or PA-18) and phenyl peaks corresponding to the PS. Analysis suggests that the methyl groups are tilted at angles less than 30 degrees with respect to the surface normal. The presence of a strong methylene peak suggests the PVNODC alkyl side chains contain more gauche defects at the PS/PVNODC interface in comparison to PVNODC (or PA-18)/air interfaces. On heating, the SFG intensity from the PS/PA-18 interface drops sharply near the bulk melting temperature (T(m)) of PA-18. Interestingly, a similar drop in SFG signal is also observed for the PS phenyl groups. This demonstrates the ability of the phenyl group at the PS/PA-18 interface to rearrange itself upon the solid-to-liquid transition of the PA-18 alkyl side chain, at a temperature well below the bulk PS glass transition temperature. For PS/PVNODC interfaces, the drop in SFG intensity is gradual and in agreement with the three broad transitions of PVNODC observed in the bulk.