| Abstract: | A simple and versatile method for the modification of a broad spectrum of surfaces with thin polymer films through the thermally or photochemically induced generation of surface‐attached polymer networks is reported. The system is based on copolymers containing diazomalonate groups, which can be activated by heat or light. To this end, the copolymers are deposited from solution onto solid substrates by standard techniques of thin‐film deposition (spin coating, dip coating). Upon activation the diazomalonate group decomposes and forms a carbene, which induces C−H insertion crosslinking (CHic) reactions. In the course of this process network formation and covalent surface attachment occur at the same time. The crosslinking process proceeds very rapidly, especially when the carbenes generated in the activation process cannot undergo Wolff‐rearrangement. The presented system can be used for the generation of a wide range of polymer layers and microstructures on a broad spectrum of surfaces. |
