2 research outputs found
Controlling Surface Segregation of a Polymer To Display Carboxy Groups on an Outermost Surface Using Perfluoroacyl Groups
Controlling
the surface properties of solid polymers is important
for practical applications. We here succeeded in controlling the surface
segregation of polymers to display carboxy groups on an outermost
surface, which allowed the covalent immobilization of functional molecules
via the carboxy groups on a substrate surface. Random methacrylate-based
copolymers containing carboxy groups, which were protected with perfluoroacyl
(R<sub>f</sub>) groups, were dip-coated on acrylic substrate surfaces.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact-angle measurements revealed
that the R<sub>f</sub> groups were segregated to the outermost surface
of the dip-coated substrates. The R<sub>f</sub> groups were removed
by hydrolysis of the R<sub>f</sub> esters in the copolymers, resulting
in the display of carboxy groups on the surface. The quantification
of carboxy groups on a surface revealed that the carboxy groups were
reactive to a water-soluble solute in an aqueous solution. The surface
segregation was affected by the molecular structure of the copolymer
used for dip-coating
Surfactant-Induced Polymer Segregation To Produce Antifouling Surfaces via Dip-Coating with an Amphiphilic Polymer
We
propose a rational strategy to control the surface segregation
of an amphiphilic copolymer in its dip-coating with a low-molecular-weight
surfactant. We synthesized a water-insoluble methacrylate-based copolymer
containing oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) (copolymer <b>1</b>)
and a perfluoroalkylated surfactant (surfactant <b>1</b>) containing
OEG. The dip-coating of copolymer <b>1</b> with surfactant <b>1</b> resulted in the segregation of surfactant <b>1</b> on the top surface of the dip-coated layer due to the high hydrophobicity
of its perfluoroalkyl group. OEG moieties of surfactant <b>1</b> were accompanied by those of copolymer <b>1</b> in its segregation,
allowing the OEG moieties of copolymer <b>1</b> to be located
just below the top surface of the dip-coated layer. The removal of
surfactant <b>1</b> produced the surface covered by the OEG
moieties of the copolymer that exhibited antifouling properties. Using
this strategy, we also succeeded in the introduction of carboxy groups
on the dip-coated surface and demonstrated that the carboxy groups
were available for the immobilization of functional molecules on the
surface