Surface grafting of electrochemically crosslinked poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) brushes via surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization

Herein we demonstrated the preparation of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) containing polynorbornylene brushes on Au surfaces via surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP). Using solid-state oxidative crosslinking technique, these polymer brushes were electrochemically converted to conjugated polymer networks. Grazing-angle FTIR spectra of polymer brushes clearly showed the characteristic vibrations of EDOT and norbornylene groups. Furthermore, densely covered Au substrates with polynorbornylene brushes were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.     

Preirradiation grafting of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) films

Preirradiation grafting of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) films was investigated. The influence of grafting parameters such as preirradiation dose, monomer concentration, and grafting temperature on the rate and grafting yield was studied. Different solvents were used for diluting the monomer and it was found that the aqueous monomer solution at a concentration of 80 wt% was suitable for this grafting system. However, the graft polymerization of NVP in benzene terminated within a short time without significant grafting yield. The dependence of the grafting rate on preirradiation dose and monomer concentration was 1.2 and 1.07 order, respectively, for grafting onto PTFE films and 1.1 and 1.2 order, respectively, for grafting onto FEP films. Arrhenius plots for grafting onto PTFE films showed a breaking point at ca. 35°C and the overall activation energies were calculated as 23.6 and 9.0 Kcal/mol below and above 35°C, respectively. For grafting onto FEP films, however, no break was observed in the Arrhenius plots; the overall activation energy was 11.9 Kcal/mol. The swelling behavior and electric resistance of the grafted materials were investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of tapered copolymer brushes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical copolymerization

Tapered copolymer brushes of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were synthesized via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) by gradual addition of HEMA to a reaction mixture that originally only had MMA as monomer. The copolymer brush grew linearly with polymerization time. The tapered copolymer brushes responded to selective solvent treatments. For the same tapered copolymer brush, pretreating the surface with methylene chloride made the surface more hydrophobic; pretreating the surface with methanol increased the surface hydrophilicity. This change in surface properties was reversible and considered to be caused by the solvent induced rearrangement of the polymer brushes, which is supported by atomic force microscopy images of the surface. Our work demonstrates that the properties of the tapered copolymer brush could be finely tuned by careful control of the composition profile.     

Patterned poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes on silica surfaces by microcontact printing followed by surface-initiated polymerization

Patterned poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) brushes were fabricated on oxidized silicon wafers by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide from a micropatterned initiator. The patterned surface initiator was prepared by microcontact-printing octadecyltrichlorosilane and backfilling with 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane followed by amidization with 2-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid. XPS and FTIR confirmed the chemical structure of the surface initiator and the PNIPAAm brushes. Surface analysis techniques, including ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and X-ray reflectometry (XRR), were used to characterize the thickness, roughness, hydrophilicity, and density of the polymer brushes. Tapping-mode AFM imaging confirmed the successful patterning of the PNIPAAm brushes on the oxidized silicon substrates. Variable temperature ellipsometry indicated that the lower critical solution temperature of the hydrated PNIPAAm brush was broad, occurring over the range of 20-35 degrees C. A solvatochromic fluorophore, 6-propionyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Prodan), in the PNIPAAm brush layers yielded a very similar emission to that in DMF, which can be attributed to the similarity of their chemical structures. Fluorescence microscopy further proved the successful patterning of the polymer brushes and suggested that the Prodan is localized in the patterned PNIPAAm brushes and excluded from the surrounding octadecyltrichlorosilane regions.     

Stereoregulation of thermoresponsive polymer brushes by surface-initiated living radical polymerization and the effect of tacticity on surface wettability

In this study, stereocontrolled poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) brushes were grafted from surfaces by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in the presence of a Lewis acid, and the effect of PIPAAm brush tacticity on the thermoresponsive wettabiliy was investigated. PIPAAm grafted by ATRP in the presence of Y(OTf)(3) showed high isotacticity, while the control brush polymerized in the absence of Y(OTf)(3) was clearly atactic. The isotacticity and molecular weight of PIPAAm brushes were controlled by polymerization conditions. The wettability of isotactic PIPAAm-grafted surfaces decreased slightly below 10 °C, although the phase transition temperature of atactic surface was 30 °C, and the bulk isotactic polymer was water-insoluble between 5 and 45 °C.     

Growth and structure of surface-initiated poly(n-alkylnorbornene) films

We report the surface-initiated growth of poly(alkylnorbornene) films via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The films are grown by exposure of a vinyl-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold to Grubbs first-generation catalyst and the subsequent exposure to an alkylnorbornene monomer. We investigate the influence of alkyl side chains on the structure, barrier, surface properties, and the growth kinetics of surface-initiated ROMP-type poly(norbornene) films. Rate constants for film growth are estimated for the comparison of monomer reactivity. The rate constant for film growth decreases by 3 orders of magnitude from norbornene to decylnorbornene, indicating a strong effect of chain length on initiation and/or propagation rates. Reflectance-absorption infrared spectroscopy is used to show the molecular level packing within the poly(alkylnorbornene) films is disrupted by the alkyl side chains. Tapping-mode atomic force microscopy is used to show that norbornene, butylnorbornene, and hexylnorbornene polymerize from the surface to form dense coatings, whereas decylnorbornene polymerizes to form isolated polymer clusters. The methyl terminus of the alkyl side chains increases the hydrophobicity of the poly(alkylnorbornene) films (thetaA(H2O) = 109-114 degrees) beyond that of a typical poly(norbornene) film (thetaA(H2O) approximately 106 degrees). The additional hydrophobicity throughout the film correlates with superior resistances against redox probes (Rf approximately 105 Omega.cm2) for poly(hexylnorbornene) when compared to polynorbornene (Rf approximately 104 Omega.cm2). The resistance of the poly(decylnorbornene) film (Rf approximately 102 Omega.cm2) is consistent with its nonuniform, cluster-like morphology.     

Surface vibrational spectroscopy on shear-aligned poly(tetrafluoroethylene) films

Sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy was used to obtain the first surface vibrational spectra of shear-deposited highly oriented poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE, Teflon) thin films. The surface PTFE chains appeared to lie along the shearing direction. Vibrational modes observed at 1142 and 1204 cm-1 were found to have the E1 symmetry, in support of some earlier analysis in the long-lasting controversy over the assignment of these modes.     

Controlled pore functionalization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membranes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

A new method for surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) on the technical polymer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) has been developed which allows controlling and estimating the layer thickness of the grafted polymer in the isocylindrical pores of track-etched membranes. After PET surface treatment by oxidative hydrolysis, the bromoalkyl initiator was immobilized on the PET surface in a two-step solid-phase reaction; the isoporous membrane structure was preserved, and the pore diameter was increased from 760 to 790 nm. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) was grafted under ATRP conditions from a methanol/water mixture at room temperature. Both monomer concentration and reaction time could be used as parameters to adjust the degree of grafting. Effective grafted layer thickness and its response to temperature were estimated from pure water permeability. All data, especially the high polymer densities (0.37 g/cm3) in the swollen layers at 25 degrees C, indicate that grafted PNIPAAm with a "brush" structure has been achieved. For dry PNIPAAm layer thicknesses on the PET pore walls of up to 80 nm, a temperature-induced swelling/deswelling ratio of approximately 3 had been observed. Reduction of the brush grafting density, via composition of the reaction mixture used in solid-phase synthesis for initiator immobilization, led to an increase of that swelling/deswelling ratio. Further, density and temperature response of the grafted PNIPAAm layers synthesized via ATRP were compared with those obtained in the same membranes by less controlled photografting, leading to lower grafting density and larger gradients in grafted layer density and, consequently, much higher swelling/deswelling ratios (>15).     

Improving the hydrophilic and antifouling properties of poly(vinyl chloride) membranes by atom transfer radical polymerization grafting of poly(ionic liquid) brushes

In this study, poly(1‐butyl‐3‐vinylimidazolium bromide) (PBVIm‐Br) was grafted onto the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane surface via a 2‐step atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reaction. Poly(2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) was grafted onto the membrane surface by aqueous ATRP reaction; then, BVIm‐Br was introduced onto the surface of the PHEMA‐modified PVC membrane through traditional ATRP reaction. The analysis of surface chemistry confirmed the successful grafting of PHEMA and PBVIm‐Br on PVC membrane surface, and the grafting density (GD) of PBVIm‐Br gradually increased as the grafting time was prolonged. The modified membrane exhibited a positive charge and significantly enhanced surface hydrophilicity. The static water contact angle of the membrane surface decreased from 92.3° to 51.6° as the GD of the PBVIm‐Br brushes increased. Filtration experiments indicated that the water flux of the modified membrane increased with increasing GD, and their recovered fluxes were more than twice than the original. In addition, the total fouling ratio of the membranes decreased from 89% in M0 to 67% in M5, and most of the fouling was reversible as the GD of PBVIm‐Br brushes increased. These results indicated that the positive charged poly(ionic liquid) brushes featuring hydrophilic properties would have potential applications in membrane separation.     

Conductive polymer brushes of regioregular head-to-tail poly(3-alkylthiophenes) via catalyst-transfer surface-initiated polycondensation

We describe a new method to grow conductive polymer (CP) brushes of regioregular head-to-tail poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3AT) via surface-initiated polycondensation of 2-bromo-5-chloromagnesio-3-alkylthiophene. A simple procedure for the preparation of the Ni(II) macroinitiator by the reaction of Ni(PPh3)4 with photocross-linked poly-4-bromostyrene films was developed. Exposure of the initiator layers to the monomer solution leads to selective chain growth polycondensation of the monomer from the surface, resulting in P3AT brushes in a very economical way. In contrast to the P3AT films prepared by traditional solvent casting methods, our approach leads to mechanically robust CP films, stable against delamination. We believe that our approach will be helpful in the fabrication of all-plastic devices.     

Length scale heterogeneity in lateral gradients of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) polymer brushes prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization coupled with in-plane electrochemical potential gradients

We report the preparation and characterization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) polymer brushes exhibiting controlled lateral variations in the patchiness of polymer chains. These gradients were achieved through an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) grafting-from approach utilizing surfaces on which the spatial profile of the initiator density was carefully controlled. Initiator density gradients were formed on Au by first preparing a hexadecanethiol (HDT) density gradient, by reductive desorption using a laterally anisotropic electrochemical gradient. The bare areas in the original HDT gradient were then back-filled with a disulfide initiator, (BrC(CH3)2COO(CH2)11S)2. The initiator coverage was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Then, surface-initiated ATRP was utilized to transfer the initiator density gradient into gradients of PNIPAAm chain density. Ellipsometry, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize these PNIPAAm density gradients. The defining characteristic of the PNIPAAm gradients is the evolution of the morphology from discontinuous mushroom structures at extremely low grafting densities to heterogeneous patchy structures at intermediate grafting densities. The size of the patchy domains gradually increases, until at a high grafting density region, the morphology evolves to a smoother, presumably more extended, structure.     

Control of surface properties using fluorinated polymer brushes produced by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization

Surface-grafted styrene-based homopolymer and diblock copolymer brushes bearing semifluorinated alkyl side groups were synthesized by nitroxide-mediated controlled radical polymerization on planar silicon oxide surfaces. The polymer brushes were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), and time-dependent water contact angle measurements. Angle-resolved XPS studies and water contact angle measurements showed that, in the case of the diblock copolymer brushes, the second block to be added was always exposed at the polymer-air interface regardless of its surface energy. Values of z*/Rg were estimated based on the radius of gyration, Rg, of the grafted homopolymer or block copolymer chains for the grafted brushes and thickness of the brush, z*. The fact that z*/Rg > 1 suggests that all these brushes are stretched. These results support the idea that after grafting the first block onto the surface the nitroxide-end capped polymer chains were able to polymerize the second block in a "living" fashion and the stretched brush so formed was dense enough that the outermost block in all cases completely covers the surface. NEXAFS analysis showed a relationship between the surface orientation of the fluorinated side chains and brush thickness with thicker brushes having more oriented side chains. Time-dependent water contact angle measurements revealed that the orientation of the side chains of the brush improved the surface stability toward reconstruction upon prolonged exposure to water.     

Growth of poly(methyl methacrylate) brushes on silicon surfaces by atom transfer radical polymerization

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes are grown by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization on silicon surfaces at various polymerization temperatures. Kinetic studies show that the layer thickness scales linearly with the degree of polymerization of the polymers under some conditions, indicating a constant graft density of the surface‐attached chains. At high temperatures, the layer growth is a controlled process only for short reaction times, and after a rapid increase, the film growth levels off, and a constant thickness is obtained. At lower reaction temperatures, polymers with a lower polydispersity are obtained, but at the expense of a much slower growth rate. Accordingly, intermediate temperatures yield the highest film thickness on experimentally feasible timescales. The reinitiation of these surface‐grafted PMMA chains at room temperature to either extend the chains or grow a chemically different polyglycidylmethacrylate block demonstrates the presence of active ends and the living nature of the surface‐grafted PMMA chains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1758–1769, 2006     

Surface-grafted block copolymer brushes with continuous composition gradients of poly(poly(ethylene glycol)-monomethacrylate) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Surface-grafted block copolymer brushes with continuous composition gradients containing poly(poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate) (P(PEGMA)) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) chains were fabricated by integration of the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) and continuous injection method.Three types of copolymer gradients were prepared: (1) a uniform P(PEGMA) layer was block copolymerized with a gradient PNIPAAm layer (PP1);(2) a gradient P(PEGMA) layer was block copo...     

Controlled synthesis of silver nanoparticles from polyoxometalates-immobilized poly(4-vinylpyridine) brushes

We extend the application of polymer brush to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Polymer brushes can efficiently prevent the aggregation of the prepared nanoparticles and allow the tailored synthesis of Ag nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(phenylene oxide) graft copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerizations

A series of comb-like poly(phenylene oxide)s (PPO) graft copolymers with controlled grafting density and length of grafts were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The α-bromo-poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)s (BPPO) were used as macroinitiators to polymerize vinyl monomers and the graft copolymers carrying polystyrene (PS), poly(p-acetoxystyrene) (PAS), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as side chains were synthesized and characterized by NMR, FTIR, GPC, DSC and TGA. The composition-dependent glass-transition temperatures (T_g) of PPO-g-PS exhibited good correlation with theoretical curve in Couchman equations except for the cases of low PS content (<40 mol%) copolymers in which a positive deviation was observed due to enhanced molecular interactions. The increase in monomer/initiator ratio led to the increase of degree of polymerization and the decrease of polydispersity. Despite the immiscibility nature between PPO and PMMA, the PPO-g-PMMA exhibited enhanced compatibilization as apparent single T_g in a wide temperature window throughout various compositions revealing an efficient segmental mixing on a molecular scale due to grafting structure.     

Protein adsorption on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes: dependence on grafting density and chain collapse

The protein resistance of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes grafted from silicon wafers was investigated as a function of the chain molecular weight, grafting density, and temperature. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32 °C, the collapse of the water-swollen chains, determined by ellipsometry, depends on the grafting density and molecular weight. Ellipsometry, radio assay, and fluorescence imaging demonstrated that, below the lower critical solution temperature, the brushes repel protein as effectively as oligoethylene oxide-terminated monolayers. Above 32 °C, very low levels of protein adsorb on densely grafted brushes, and the amounts of adsorbed protein increase with decreasing brush-grafting-densities. Brushes that do not exhibit a collapse transition also bind protein, even though the chains remain extended above the LCST. These findings suggest possible mechanisms underlying protein interactions with end-grafted poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) brushes.     

Facile synthesis of thermally stable poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-modified gold surfaces by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Well-controlled polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) on Au surfaces by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) was carried out at room temperature by a silanization method. Initial attempts to graft poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) layers from initiators attached to alkanethiol monolayers yielded PVP films with thicknesses less than 5 nm. The combined factors of the difficulty in the controllable polymerization of NVP and the instability of alkanethiol monolayers led to the difficulty in the controlled polymerization of NVP on Au surfaces. Therefore, the silanization method was employed to form an adhesion layer for initiator attachment. This method allowed well-defined ATRP polymerization to occur on Au surfaces. Water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and reflectance Fourier transform infrared (reflectance FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the modified surfaces. The PVP-modified gold surface remained stable at 130 °C for 3 h, showing excellent thermal stability. Thus, postfunctionalization of polymer brushes at elevated temperatures is made possible. The silanization method was also applied to modify SPR chips and showed potential applications in biosensors and biochips.     

Corrosion protection of iron surface modified by poly(methyl methacrylate) using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP)

A new N-heterocyclic initiator N-[2-(8-heptadecenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-1-ethyl]-2-bromoisobutyramide was synthesized and immobilized on the surface of iron. Methyl methacrylate was grafted from iron substrates via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The first-order kinetics of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) grafting from iron revealed the control of ATRP throughout the reaction, and the polymerization reached a high conversion producing polymers with good control of molecular weights (M _n?=?68,800) and low polydispersity indexes (M _w/M _n?<?1.32). The thickness of the polymer brush films was greater than 47 nm after 7 h of reaction time. The grafting density was estimated to be 0.48 chains?nm^?2. The iron surfaces at various stages of modification were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometer. The analytical results were consistent with a thin compact polymer coating on the surface of iron. Iron surface with grafted PMMA coating showed significant corrosion resistance. This work demonstrated that the surface-initiated ATRP is a versatile means of the surface modification of active metals with well-defined and functionalized polymer brushes.     

Controlled drug release through poly(L-leucine) and its copolymer

The release behavior of a water-soluble drug through membranes made of poly(L-leucine) and its copolymer with different hydrophilic properties was studied. The effect of casting methods on the release rate was also investigated. It was found that the membrane with a higher hydrophilic property resulted in a higher permeation rate. The capsule was prepared as a composite sheet from a poly(L-leucine)-prednisolone 21-sodium succinate sponge and a poly(L-leucine) membrane. Release of the water-soluble drug from the capsule was found to be effectively governed by the hydrophilic character and thickness of the outer membrane. Biocompatibility studies carried out by implanting the poly(L-leucine) sponge subcutaneously in the dorsal surface of the rat showed that the sponge had a good biocompatibility and slow biodegradation. It was concluded from these results that poly(L-leucine) should be a suitable material for preparing a controlledrelease drug device for long-term dosage.