Water-barrier properties of mixed bis[trimethoxysilylpropyl]amine and vinyltriacetoxysilane films

X-ray and neutron reflectivity were employed to elucidate the morphologies of bistrimethoxysilylpropyl]amine silane (A) and vinyltriacetoxysilane (V) mixed films on Si wafers at different A/V ratios, and the response of these films to saturated water vapor. Due to its insensitivity to chemical composition, X-ray reflectivity was used to assess the film density, whereas neutron reflectivity was used to probe water absorption and chemical change on exposure to water. NMR was employed to determine the reaction mechanism in neat AV mixtures and stoichiometry of the initial reaction. X-ray reflectivity reveals about 30% void volume in the films with the least void volume detected near stoichiometry. Grazing incidence small-angle scattering (GISAXS) shows that the void volume is at the molecular level, with no distinct pores. Neutron reflectivity on D2O-conditioned films shows that silane film is not an effective water barrier with about 30 vol % water being absorbed with only a slight thickness increase. Most water is physically absorbed in the void space with the least amount being absorbed near the stoichiometric A/V ratio. The scattering length density of the films almost returns to the virgin state after re-dry following D2O vapor exposure. The film thickness, however, remains at the water-vapor-conditioned state. The slight increase in scattering length density and irreversible thickness change after re-dry indicate some reaction with water during D2O conditioning. A D-rich layer is also observed at the air side surface in D2O-conditioned films regardless of A/V ratio.