Transparent Grafted Zwitterionic Copolymer Coatings That Exhibit Both Antifogging and Self-Cleaning Properties

In this work, we have investigated a zwitterionic copolymer that demonstrates outstanding antifogging and self-cleaning properties. These polymer coatings are photochemically grafted to substrates containing C–H bonds with rapid kinetics and form a robust polymer networks on plastic and alkyl-modified glass surfaces. The copolymers consist of a zwitterionic monomer, which provides high hydrophilicity, and a benzophenone moiety that produces a densely cross-linked network. The optical clarity of the substrates is not impacted by the polymer coating and even slightly improved due to the lower refractive index of the polymer relative to glass. The antifogging and self-cleaning capabilities were determined by a series of experiments, where the optical transmittance of substrates modified with copolymer coatings was excellent under both hot and cold fogging conditions. Additionally, surfaces contaminated with oil are easily cleaned by simply submerging the coatings in water. Moreover, the coatings exhibit excellent chemical and mechanical resistance and maintain antifogging properties after abrasion testing in the presence of either chemical detergents or common household cleaners

Transparent Grafted Zwitterionic Copolymer Coatings That Exhibit Both Antifogging and Self-Cleaning Properties

In this work, we have investigated a zwitterionic copolymer that demonstrates outstanding antifogging and self-cleaning properties. These polymer coatings are photochemically grafted to substrates containing C–H bonds with rapid kinetics and form a robust polymer networks on plastic and alkyl-modified glass surfaces. The copolymers consist of a zwitterionic monomer, which provides high hydrophilicity, and a benzophenone moiety that produces a densely cross-linked network. The optical clarity of the substrates is not impacted by the polymer coating and even slightly improved due to the lower refractive index of the polymer relative to glass. The antifogging and self-cleaning capabilities were determined by a series of experiments, where the optical transmittance of substrates modified with copolymer coatings was excellent under both hot and cold fogging conditions. Additionally, surfaces contaminated with oil are easily cleaned by simply submerging the coatings in water. Moreover, the coatings exhibit excellent chemical and mechanical resistance and maintain antifogging properties after abrasion testing in the presence of either chemical detergents or common household cleaners

Transparent Grafted Zwitterionic Copolymer Coatings That Exhibit Both Antifogging and Self-Cleaning Properties

In this work, we have investigated a zwitterionic copolymer that demonstrates outstanding antifogging and self-cleaning properties. These polymer coatings are photochemically grafted to substrates containing C–H bonds with rapid kinetics and form a robust polymer networks on plastic and alkyl-modified glass surfaces. The copolymers consist of a zwitterionic monomer, which provides high hydrophilicity, and a benzophenone moiety that produces a densely cross-linked network. The optical clarity of the substrates is not impacted by the polymer coating and even slightly improved due to the lower refractive index of the polymer relative to glass. The antifogging and self-cleaning capabilities were determined by a series of experiments, where the optical transmittance of substrates modified with copolymer coatings was excellent under both hot and cold fogging conditions. Additionally, surfaces contaminated with oil are easily cleaned by simply submerging the coatings in water. Moreover, the coatings exhibit excellent chemical and mechanical resistance and maintain antifogging properties after abrasion testing in the presence of either chemical detergents or common household cleaners

Transparent Grafted Zwitterionic Copolymer Coatings That Exhibit Both Antifogging and Self-Cleaning Properties

In this work, we have investigated a zwitterionic copolymer that demonstrates outstanding antifogging and self-cleaning properties. These polymer coatings are photochemically grafted to substrates containing C–H bonds with rapid kinetics and form a robust polymer networks on plastic and alkyl-modified glass surfaces. The copolymers consist of a zwitterionic monomer, which provides high hydrophilicity, and a benzophenone moiety that produces a densely cross-linked network. The optical clarity of the substrates is not impacted by the polymer coating and even slightly improved due to the lower refractive index of the polymer relative to glass. The antifogging and self-cleaning capabilities were determined by a series of experiments, where the optical transmittance of substrates modified with copolymer coatings was excellent under both hot and cold fogging conditions. Additionally, surfaces contaminated with oil are easily cleaned by simply submerging the coatings in water. Moreover, the coatings exhibit excellent chemical and mechanical resistance and maintain antifogging properties after abrasion testing in the presence of either chemical detergents or common household cleaners

Transparent Grafted Zwitterionic Copolymer Coatings That Exhibit Both Antifogging and Self-Cleaning Properties

In this work, we have investigated a zwitterionic copolymer that demonstrates outstanding antifogging and self-cleaning properties. These polymer coatings are photochemically grafted to substrates containing C–H bonds with rapid kinetics and form a robust polymer networks on plastic and alkyl-modified glass surfaces. The copolymers consist of a zwitterionic monomer, which provides high hydrophilicity, and a benzophenone moiety that produces a densely cross-linked network. The optical clarity of the substrates is not impacted by the polymer coating and even slightly improved due to the lower refractive index of the polymer relative to glass. The antifogging and self-cleaning capabilities were determined by a series of experiments, where the optical transmittance of substrates modified with copolymer coatings was excellent under both hot and cold fogging conditions. Additionally, surfaces contaminated with oil are easily cleaned by simply submerging the coatings in water. Moreover, the coatings exhibit excellent chemical and mechanical resistance and maintain antifogging properties after abrasion testing in the presence of either chemical detergents or common household cleaners

Self-Sorting Click Reactions That Generate Spatially Controlled Chemical Functionality on Surfaces

This Article describes the generation of a patterned surface that can be postpolymerization modified to incorporate fragile macromolecules or delicate biomolecules without the need for special equipment. Two monomers that undergo different click reactions, pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA) and 4-(trimethylsilyl) ethynylstyrene (TMSES), were sequentially polymerized from a silicon surface in the presence of a shadowmask with UV light, generating 12.5 and 62 μm pitch patterns. Two different dyes, 1-aminomethylpyrene (AMP) and 5-azidofluorescein (AF), were covalently attached to the polymer brushes through aminolysis and dual desilylation/copper­(I)-catalyzed alkyne/azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) in one pot. Unlike most CuAAC reactions, the terminal alkyne of TMSES was not deprotected prior to functionalization. Although a 2 nm thickness increase was observed for poly­(PFPA) brushes after polymerization of TMSES, cross-contamination was not visible through fluorescence microscopy after functionalization

Nanopatterning and Nanocharge Writing in Layer-by-Layer Quinquethiophene/Phthalocyanine Ultrathin Films

Nanometer-scale patterning and charging in layer-by-layer (LbL) ultrathin films of quinquethiophene (5TN)/phthalocyanine (CuPS) provides a novel write−read device using a standard current-sensing atomic force microscopy (CS-AFM). The AFM height images showed dented or raised morphological features that could be selectively manipulated by changing the direction of the bias voltages. The conductivity was repeatedly changed between a conductive and insulating state, originating from an electrochemical charging−discharging effect. This was attributed to electrochemical ion transport and the residual mobile ions present in LbL films. Finally, the nanocharge pattern was written by CS-AFM and read out in a conductivity map image

A First Synthesis of Thiophene Dendrimers

Thiophene dendrons and dendrimers were designed and synthesized using a convergent approach. Metal-mediated coupling reactions were used in the synthesis. A rational approach allowed the formation of αα, ββ, and αβ linkages between the dendrons and thiophene units

Comparative Aminolysis Kinetics of Different Active Ester Polymer Brush Platforms in Postpolymerization Modification with Primary and Aromatic Amines

The kinetics of aminolysis between two different active ester polymer brush platforms, poly­(4-pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (poly­(PFPA)) and poly­(<i>N</i>-hydroxysuccinimide-4-vinyl benzoate) (poly­(NHS4VB)), are compared using primary and aromatic amines with varying reactivity toward postpolymerization modification. UV–vis was used to monitor the aminolysis of both brush platforms with 1-aminomethylpyrene (AMP), 1-aminopyrene (AP), and Ru­(bpy)₂(phen-5-NH₂)­(PF₆) (Ru²⁺A). Using a pseudo-first-order kinetics model, the pseudo-first-order rate constant (<i>k</i>′) was calculated for each system. The <i>k</i>′ of poly­(PFPA) modified with AMP, AP, and Ru²⁺A were 2.46 × 10^–1, 5.11 × 10^–3, and 2.59 × 10^–3 s^–1, respectively, while poly­(NHS4VB) can only be functionalized with the alkyl amine, albeit at a slower rate constant, <i>k</i>′ of 3.49 × 10^–3 s^–1, compared to that of poly­(PFPA) with AMP. The kinetics of surface-initiated photopolymerization of PFPA from oxide surfaces was also investigated as an effective method to control grafting density and film thickness

Evidence for the Phospholipid Sponge Effect as the Biocidal Mechanism in Surface-Bound Polyquaternary Ammonium Coatings with Variable Cross-Linking Density

Poly quaternary “-oniums” derived from polyethylenimine (PEI), poly­(vinyl-<i>N</i>-alkylpyridinium), or chitosan belong to a class of cationic polymers that are efficient antimicrobial agents. When dissolved in solution, the positively charged polycations are able to displace the divalent cations of the cellular phospholipid bilayer and disrupt the ionic cross-links and structural integrity of the membrane. However, when immobilized to a surface where confinement limits diffusion, poly -oniums still show excellent antimicrobial activity, which implies a different biocidal mode of action. Recently, a proposed mechanism, named phospholipid sponge effect, suggested that surface-bound polycationic networks are capable of recruiting negatively charged phospholipids out of the bacterial cell membrane and sequestering them within the polymer matrix. However, there has been insufficient evidence to support this hypothesis. In this study, a surface-bound <i>N,N</i>-dodecyl methyl-<i>co</i>-<i>N,N</i>-methylbenzophenone methyl quaternary PEI (DMBQPEI) was prepared to verify the phospholipid sponge effect. By tuning the irradiation time, the cross-linking densities of surface-bound DMBQPEI films were mediated. The modulus of films was measured by PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (QNM) to indicate the cross-linking density variation with increasing irradiation time. A negative correlation between the film cross-linking density and the absorption of a negatively charged phospholipid (DPhPG) was observed, but no such correlations were observed with a neutral phospholipid (DPhPC), which strongly supported the action of anionic phospholipid suction proposed in the lipid sponge effect. Moreover, the killing efficiency toward <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>E. coli</i> was inversely affected by the cross-linking density of the films, providing evidence for the phospholipid sponge effect. The relationship between killing efficiency and film cross-linking density is discussed