Cross-linking of polybutadiene at the air/water interface: toward an easy access to two-dimensional polymeric materials

A novel approach to two-dimensionally crosslink polydienes at the air/water interface is proposed. The acid-catalyzed condensation of the triethoxysilane pendant groups of triethoxysilane-functionalized polybutadiene chains at the air/water interface successfully led to the formation of an insoluble crosslinked material which could be directly removed from the water surface. The efficiency of the cross-linking reaction was demonstrated through surface pressure measurements such as surface pressure-mean molecular area isotherms recorded at different reaction times and isobar experiments for different subphase pH values. The evolution of the monolayer topography during cross-linking was studied by atomic force microscopy imaging of the Langmuir-Blodgett films.