Neutral and Charged Brushes Covalently Grafted from OH-Functionalized Mica Surfaces using Surface-Initiated ATRP – Swelling Investigation by AFM

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PBA) brushes of various grafting densities were prepared via surface-initiated polymerization of tert-butyl acrylate on mica. PAA was prepared by hydrolyzing the PBA brushes. The swelling behavior of PBA and PAA brushes was studied as a function of grafting density by AFM. The swelling of the polymer layer was found to be higher for PAA in water than for the PBA sample swollen with DFM.     

Block copolymer preparation by atom transfer radical polymerization under emulsion conditions using a nanoprecipitation technique

Living‐radical polymerization of acrylates were performed under emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions using latexes prepared by a nanoprecipitation technique previously employed and optimized for the polymerization of styrene. A macroinitiator of poly(n‐butyl acrylate) prepared under bulk ATRP was dissolved in acetone and precipitated in an aqueous solution of Brij 98 to preform latex particles, which were then swollen with monomer and heated. Various monomers (i.e. n‐butyl acrylate, styrene, and tert‐butyl acrylate) were used to swell the particles to prepare homo‐ and block copolymers from the poly(n‐butyl acrylate) macroinitiator. Under these conditions latexes with a relatively good colloidal stability were obtained. Furthermore, amphiphilic block copolymers were prepared by hydrolysis of the tert‐butyl groups and the resulting block copolymers were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The bulk morphologies of the polystyrene‐b‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate) and poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(acrylic acid) copolymers were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 625–635, 2008     

Comparison of surface confined ATRP and SET‐LRP syntheses for a series of amino (meth)acrylate polymer brushes on silicon substrates

A series of poly(amino (meth)acrylate) brushes, poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA), poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA), poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate) (PDMAEA), poly(2‐(tert‐butylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PTBAEMA), has been synthesized via surface‐confined controlled/living radical polymerizations using surface‐confined initiator from silane self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on silicon (Si) wafer substrates. Chemical methods and efficacies for two types of living radical polymerization, atom transfer radical (ATRP) and single electron transfer (SET‐LRP), are described and contrasted for the surface confined polymerization of poly(amino (meth)acrylate)s. Effects of solvent, catalyst/ligand system, and temperature on polymerization success were examined. Chemical compositions after each reaction step were characterized with FTIR spectroscopy, contact angle goniometry, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy while the SAM and polymer brush thicknesses were measured with spectroscopic ellipsometry. For the first time, this study demonstrates successful surface‐confined polymerization of a series of poly(amine (meth)acrylate) brushes from Si‐SAM substrates using a copper metal electron donor catalyst. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6552–6560, 2009     

Facile synthesis of poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) by frontal free‐radical polymerization

We report the first synthesis of poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) without solvent by free‐radical frontal polymerization (FP) at ambient pressure. In a typical run, the appropriate amounts of reactant (hydroxyethyl acrylate) and initiator (1,1‐di(tert‐butylperoxy)‐3,3,5‐trimethylcyclohexane) (Luperox 231) were mixed together at ambient pressure. FP was initiated by heating the wall of the tube with a soldering iron, and the resultant hot fronts were allowed to self‐propagate throughout the reaction vessel. Once initiated, no further energy was required for polymerization to occur. To study the macrokinetics, we also produced PHEA frontally with ammonium persulfate as initiator and dimethyl sulfoxide as the solvent. The dependences of the front velocity and front temperature on the initiator concentration and reactant dilution were investigated. The front temperatures were between 124 and 157 °C, depending on the ammonium persulfate concentration. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that PHEA prepared by FP with ammonium persulfate as initiator had higher thermal stability than solvent‐free frontally prepared PHEA with Luperox 231 as initiator. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 873–881, 2007     

Synthesis of polynorbornene‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) nanoparticles with original morphologies by tandem ROMP and ATRP in microemulsion

Composite latex particles based on homopolymers and graft‐copolymers composed of polynorbornene (PNB) and poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA) were synthesized in microemulsion conditions by simultaneous combination of two distinct methods of polymerization: Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Only one commercial compound (first generation Grubbs catalyst) was used to initiate the ROMP of norbornene (NB) and activate the ATRP of tert‐butyl acrylate (tBA). Well‐defined nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters smaller than 50 nm were prepared with original morphologies depending on the monomer compositions, the type of combination (polymer blend or graft‐copolymer), and the conditions of microemulsion polymerizations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

RAFT‐mediated synthesis of poly[(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] brushes for biological functions

The synthesis of poly[(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] [poly(OEGA)] brushes was achieved via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and used to selectively immobilize streptavidin proteins. Initially, gold surfaces were modified with a trithiocarbonate‐based RAFT chain transfer agent (CTA) by using an ester reaction involving a gold substrate modified with 11‐mercapto‐1‐undecanol and bis(2‐butyric acid)trithiocarbonate. poly(OEGA) brushes were then prepared via RAFT‐mediated polymerization from the surface‐immobilized CTA. The immobilization of CTA on the gold surface and the subsequent polymer formation were followed by ellipsometry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing angle‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and water contact‐angle measurements. RAFT‐mediated polymerization method gave CTA groups to grafted poly(OEGA) termini, which can be converted to various biofunctional groups. The terminal carboxylic acid groups of poly(OEGA) chains were functionalized with amine‐functionalized biotin units to provide selective attachment points for streptavidin proteins. Fluorescence microscopy measurements confirmed the successful immobilization of streptavidin molecules on the polymer brushes. It is demonstrated that this fabrication method may be successfully applied for specific protein recognition and immobilization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Water sorption characteristics of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)/silica nanocomposite hydrogels

Water sorption in hydrogels based on nanocomposites of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) and silica, prepared by simultaneous polymerization and sol‐gel process, were studied gravimetrically over wide ranges of silica content, both below and above the percolation threshold of about 15% wt for the formation of a continuous inorganic network interpenetrated with the organic network. Measurements were performed at room temperature from the vapor phase, both at equilibrium and dynamic, for selected values of water activity α_w between 0 and 0.95, and from the liquid phase. In the nanocomposite hydrogels, the overall water uptake from the vapor phase is practically the same as in pure PHEA below the percolation threshold, whereas it is reduced above the percolation threshold, in particular at high α_w values where swelling becomes significant. Water clustering sets in at around 14 vol % (10 wt %) of water independently of composition, whereas the mean value of water molecules in a cluster decreases at high silica contents. In immersion experiments water uptake decreases as silica content increases to the percolation threshold of about 15 wt % and is then almost independent of composition. A scheme is proposed, which explains these results in terms of the existence of micelles, where a number of hydrophilic hydroxy groups are linked together, and their disentaglement by immersion into water. Diffusion coefficients of water depend on water content and are reduced on addition of silica above the percolation threshold. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

An efficient way to tune grafting density of well‐defined copolymers via an unusual Br‐containing acrylate monomer

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers, containing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbone and hydrophobic poly(butyl acrylate) side chains, were synthesized by sequential reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) without any postpolymerization functionality modification followed by selective acidic hydrolysis of poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) backbone. tert‐Butyl 2‐((2‐bromopropanoyloxy)methyl)‐acrylate was first homopolymerized or copolymerized with tert‐butyl acrylate by RAFT in a controlled way to give ATRP‐initiation‐group‐containing homopolymers and copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n < 1.20) and their reactivity ratios were determined by Fineman‐Ross and Kelen‐Tudos methods, respectively. The density of ATRP initiation group can be regulated by the feed ratio of the comonomers. Next, ATRP of butyl acrylate was directly initiated by these macroinitiators to synthesize well‐defined poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(butyl acrylate) graft copolymers with controlled grafting densities via the grafting‐from strategy. PtBA‐based backbone was selectively hydrolyzed in acidic environment without affecting PBA side chains to provide poly(acrylic acid)‐g‐poly(butyl acrylate) amphiphilic graft copolymers. Fluorescence probe technique was used to determine the critical micelle concentrations in aqueous media and micellar morphologies are found to be spheres visualized by TEM. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2622–2630, 2010     

Entropic death of nonpatterned and nanopatterned polyelectrolyte brushes

The stability of nonpatterned and nanopatterned strong polyelectrolyte brushes (PEBs) is studied as a function of both brush character and the properties of a contacting liquid. High‐molecular‐weight PEBs of poly(4‐methyl vinylpyridinium iodide) (PMeVP) are synthesized using surface‐initiated radical‐chain polymerization. Nanopatterned brushes (NPBs) line with pattern sizes ranging from 50 to 200 nm are generated by patterning the initiator layer using deep‐ultraviolet photolithography followed by brush growth initiated from the patterned layer. Homogeneous PEBs with different degrees of charging and grafting densities are exposed to water and salt solutions with different temperatures for different periods. The degradation is monitored through dry‐state ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy measurements. Enhanced degrafting for more strongly swollen polymer brushes can be observed in agreement with an “entropic spring” model. Based on the results of the nonpatterned brushes, the NPBs are exposed to water at different temperatures and external salt content for varying periods of time. Counterintuitively, the NPBs show increased degrafting for smaller patterns, which is attributed to different polymer chain dynamics for nanobrushes and microbrushes. We investigate the influence of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters on the stability of (nanopatterned) PEBs and discuss the role of entanglements and formation of complexes in such films. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1283–1295     

Synthesis of well‐defined pH‐responsive PPEGMEA‐g‐P2VP double hydrophilic graft copolymer via sequential SET‐LRP and ATRP

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers containing poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate) (PPEGMEA) backbone and poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) side chains were synthesized by successive single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was first prepared by SET‐LRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained homopolymer then reacted with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐chloropropionyl chloride at ?78 °C to afford PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator. poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) double hydrophilic graft copolymers were finally synthesized by. ATRP of 2‐vinylpyridine initiated by PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator at 25 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalytic system via the grafting‐ from strategy. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept relatively narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.40). pH‐Responsive micellization behavior was investigated by ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy and this kind of double hydrophilic graft copolymer aggregated to form micelles with P2VP‐core while pH of the aqueous solution was above 5.0. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

A starlike amphiphilic graft copolymer with hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains

A well‐defined starlike amphiphilic graft copolymer bearing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains was synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by the hydrolysis of poly‐(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone. A grafting‐from strategy was employed for the synthesis of a graft copolymer with narrow molecular weight distribution. Hydrophobic polystyrene side chains were connected to the backbones through stable C? C bonds. The poly(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbones can be easily hydrolyzed with HCl without affecting the hydrophobic polystyrene side chains. This kind of amphiphilic graft copolymer can form stable sphere micelles in water. The sizes of the micelles were dependent on the ionic strength and pH value. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3687–3697, 2007     

Novel amphiphilic graft copolymers bearing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic poly(butyl methacrylate) side chains

A novel amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic poly(butyl methacrylate) side chains was synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by hydrolysis of poly‐(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone. A grafting‐from strategy was employed for the synthesis of graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity index < 1.40). Hydrophobic side chains were connected to the backbone through stable C? C bonds instead of ester connections. Poly(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone was easily hydrolyzed to poly(acrylic acid) backbone with HCl without affecting the hydrophobic side chains. The amphiphilic graft copolymer could form stable micelles in water. The critical micelle concentration in water was determined by a fluorescence probe technique. The morphology of the micelles was preliminarily explored with transmission electron microscopy and was found to be spheres. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6857–6868, 2006     

Stimuli‐responsive diblock copolymer brushes via combination of “click chemistry” and living radical polymerization

pH‐ and temperature‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐block?4‐vinylbenzoic acid) (poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA)) diblock copolymer brushes on silicon wafers have been successfully prepared by combining click reaction, single‐electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP), and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Azide‐terminated poly(NIPAAm) brushes were obtained by SET‐LRP followed by reaction with sodium azide. A click reaction was utilized to exchange the azide end group of a poly(NIPAAm) brushes to form a surface‐immobilized macro‐RAFT agent, which was successfully chain extended via RAFT polymerization to produce poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brushes. The addition of sacrificial initiator and/or chain‐transfer agent permitted the formation of well‐defined diblock copolymer brushes and free polymer chains in solution. The free polymer chains were isolated and used to estimate the molecular weights and polydispersity index of chains attached to the surface. Ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, grazing angle‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the immobilization of initiator on the silicon wafer, poly(NIPAAm) brush formation via SET‐LRP, click reaction, and poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brush formation via RAFT polymerization. The poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brushes demonstrate stimuli‐responsive behavior with respect to pH and temperature. The swollen brush thickness of poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brush increases with increasing pH, and decreases with increasing temperature. These results can provide guidance for the design of smart materials based on copolymer brushes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2677–2685     

Synthesis of double hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) by single‐electron transfer–living radical polymerization

In this study, the polymerization of (2‐hydroxyethyl) acrylate (HEA), in polar media, using Cu(0)‐mediated radical polymerization also called single‐electron transfer–living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) is reported. The kinetics aspects of both the homopolymerization and the copolymerization from a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macroinitiator were analyzed by ¹H NMR. The effects of both the ligand and the solvent were studied. The polymerization was shown to reach very high monomer conversions and to proceed in a well‐controlled fashion in the presence of tris[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine Me6‐TREN and N, N,N′, N″, N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). SET‐LRP of HEA was also led in water, and it was shown to be faster than in DMSO. In pure water, Me₆‐TREN allowed a better control over the molar masses and polydispersity indices than PMDETA and TREN. Double hydrophilic PEO‐b‐PHEA block copolymers, exhibiting various PHEA block lengths up to 100 HEA units, were synthesized, in the same manner, from a bromide‐terminated PEO macroinitiator. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Convenient synthesis of thermo‐responsive PtBA‐g‐PPEGMEMA well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer without polymeric functional group transformation

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers bearing hydrophobic poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) backbone and hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)] (PPEGMEMA) side chains were synthesized by sequential reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) without any polymeric functional group transformation. A new Br‐containing acrylate monomer, tert‐butyl 2‐((2‐bromoisobutanoyloxy)methyl)acrylate (tBBIBMA), was first prepared, which can be homopolymerized by RAFT to give a well‐defined PtBBIBMA homopolymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.15). This homopolymer with pendant Br initiation group in every repeating unit initiated SET‐LRP of PEGMEMA at 45 °C using CuBr/dHbpy as catalytic system to afford well‐defined PtBBIBMA‐g‐PPEGMEMA graft copolymers via the grafting‐from strategy. The self‐assembly behavior of the obtained graft copolymers in aqueous media was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and TEM. These copolymers were found to be stimuli‐responsive to both temperature and ions. Finally, poly(acrylic acid)‐g‐PPEGMEMA double hydrophilic graft copolymers were obtained by selective acidic hydrolysis of hydrophobic PtBA backbone while PPEGMEMA side chains kept inert. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

High density cationic polymer brushes from combined “click chemistry” and RAFT‐mediated polymerization

A simple method for preparing cationic poly[(ar‐vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride)] [poly(VBTAC)] brushes was used by combined technology of “click chemistry” and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Initially, silicon surfaces were modified with RAFT chain transfer agent by using a click reaction involving an azide‐modified silicon wafer and alkyne‐terminated 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPAD). A series of poly(VBTAC) brushes on silicon surface with different molecular weights, thicknesses, and grafting densities were then synthesized by RAFT‐mediated polymerization from the surface immobilized CPAD. The immobilization of CPAD on the silicon wafer and the subsequent polymer formation were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements, grazing angle‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and ellipsometry analysis. The addition of free CPAD was required for the formation of well‐defined polymer brushes, which subsequently resulted in the presence of free polymer chains in solution. The free polymer chains were isolated and used to estimate the molecular weights and polydispersity index of chains attached to the surface. In addition, by varying the polymerization time, we were able to obtain poly(VBTAC) brushes with grafting density up to 0.78 chains/nm² with homogeneous distributions of apparent needle‐like structures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of low grafting density molecular brush from a poly(N‐alkyl urea peptoid) backbone

The synthesis of a molecular brush was accomplished by combining step‐growth polymerization and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in a “grafting from” methodology. A symmetrical N‐alkyl urea peptoid sixmer containing alkyne functional groups was prepared using a divergent strategy, and the structure of the product was confirmed using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. A step‐growth process was used to prepare a linear poly(N‐alkyl urea peptoid) by reacting the diamine‐functionalized N‐alkyl urea peptoid sixmer with a diisocyanate. RAFT chain transfer agents were coupled to the poly(N‐alkyl urea peptoid) backbone through a copper‐catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition reaction. The afforded macro‐RAFT agent was used to sequentially polymerize styrene and tert‐butyl acrylate block copolymer arms from the poly(N‐alkyl urea peptoid) backbone. The tert‐butyl groups were removed using dilute trifluoroacetic acid affording hydrophilic polyacrylic acid segments. The molecular brushes were observed to generate micelles in aqueous solution. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of graft copolymers onto styrenic polymer backbone via “grafting from” raft process

A new synthetic methodology is developed for preparing graft copolymers via RAFT polymerization method by the “R group approach” onto styrenic polymers. In this approach, latent sites of the styrenic polymer was brominated first and then converted into macro‐RAFT agents with pyrazole and thio dodecyl as the Z groups. This was used to synthesize graft copolymer such as polystyrene‐graft‐polymethyl methacrylate (PS‐g‐PMMA), polystyrene‐graft‐poly(isobornyl acrylate), polystyrene‐graft‐poly[2‐(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PS‐g‐PAEMA), and poly(para‐methoxystyrene)‐graft‐polystyrene (P(p‐MS)‐g‐PS). The polymers are characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H NMR, IR, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The morphology of PS‐g‐PMMA in THF was investigated using AFM and island‐like features were noticed. The AFM studies of the PS‐g‐PAEMA graft copolymers revealed the formation of globules and ribbon‐like morphological features. The PS‐g‐PAEMA graft copolymers form complex with Fe(III) in dimethylformamide and the AFM studies suggest the formation of globular superstructures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Characterization of patterned poly(methyl methacrylate) brushes under various structures upon solvent immersion

In this paper we describe a graft polymerization/solvent immersion method for generating various patterns of polymer brushes. We used a very-large-scale integration (VLSI) process and oxygen plasma system to generate well-defined patterns of polymerized methyl methacrylate (MMA) on patterned Si(1 0 0) surfaces through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). After immersion of wafers presenting lines of these PMMA brushes in water and tetrahydrofuran, we observed mushroom- and brush-like regimes through grafting densities and surface coverages, respectively, for the PMMA brushes with various pattern resolutions. In the mushroom-like regime, the distance between lines of PMMA brushes was smaller than that of the lines patterned lithographically on the wafer; in the brush-like regime, this distance was approximately the same. This new strategy allows polymer brushes to be prepared through graft polymerization and then have their patterns varied through solvent immersion.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization directly from poly(vinylidene fluoride): Surface and antifouling properties

The direct preparation of grafting polymer brushes from commercial poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films with surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is demonstrated. The direct initiation of the secondary fluorinated site of PVDF facilitated grafting of the hydrophilic monomers from the PVDF surface. Homopolymer brushes of 2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and poly (ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (PEGMA) were prepared by ATRP from the PVDF surface. The chemical composition and surface topography of the graft‐functionalized PVDF surfaces were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. A kinetic study revealed a linear increase in the graft concentration of poly[2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) and poly[poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate] (PPEGMA) with the reaction time, indicating that the chain growth from the surface was consistent with a controlled or living process. The living chain ends were used as macroinitiators for the synthesis of diblock copolymer brushes. The water contact angles on PVDF films were reduced by the surface grafting of DMAEMA and PEGMA. Protein adsorption experiments revealed a substantial antifouling property of PPEGMA‐grafted PVDF films and PDMAEMA‐grafted PVDF films in comparison with the pristine PVDF surface. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3434–3443, 2006