Nanostructured Polyelectrolyte Layer-by- Layer and Polymer Brushes by Surface Initiated Polymerization: Dual Control in Core Shell and Ultrathin Film Coatings

摘要

Polymer chains bound to the surface have received increasing attention especially for applications toward smart surfaces and coatings. Surface initiated polymerization (SIP) or “grafting from” has been widely used for the formation of densely grafted polymer brushes on a variety of substrates. However, attachment of surface bound initiators onto the substrate surface needs to be done prior to SIP studies. Surface modification through the formation of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) has been reported. Ruhe and Prucker reported some of the pioneering work in the area of SIP for the growth of polymer brushes and contributed to the development of surface bound initiators. However, these types of surface bound initiators are usually synthesized by hydrosilylation or by SAMs on metals.8 Other methods include multiple reaction steps occurring on the substrate surface which can be time consuming and not amenable to strong adhesion with polymeric substrates.