Simple, Benign, Aqueous-Based Amination of Polycarbonate
Surfaces
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Abstract
Polycarbonate
is a desirable material for many applications due
to its favorable mechanical and optical properties. Here, we report
a simple, safe, environmentally friendly aqueous method that uses
diamines to functionalize a polycarbonate surface with amino groups.
The use of water as the solvent for the functionalization ensures
that solvent induced swelling does not affect the optical or mechanical
properties of the polycarbonate. We characterize the efficacy of the
surface amination using X-ray photo spectroscopy, Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and
contact angle measurements. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability
of this facile method to serve as a foundation upon which other functionalities
may be attached, including antifouling coatings and oriented membrane
proteins