SI-PET-RAFT in flow: improved control over polymer brush growth.

ABSTRACT: Surface-initiated photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-PET-RAFT) provides a light-dependent tool to synthesize polymer brushes on different surfaces that tolerates oxygen and water, and does not require a metal catalyst. Here we introduce improved control over SI-PET-RAFT polymerizations via continuous flow conditions. We confirm the composition and topological structure of the brushes by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and AFM. The improved control compared to no-flow conditions provides prolonged linear growth of the polymer brush (up to 250 nm, where no-flow polymerization maxed out <50 nm), and improved polymerization control of the polymer brush that allows the construction of diblock polymer brushes. We further sho

SUBMITTER: Kuzmyn AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10367056 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature