Contact
    Start Publications Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Ultrathin Films with a Binary ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    Attension

    Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Ultrathin Films with a Binary Architecture: Combined Layer-by-Layer Polyelectrolyte and Surface-Initiated Polymerization Approach

    Year: 2008

    Journal: Macromolecules, 2008, 41 (2), 429-435, 20111221

    Authors: Timothy M. Fulghum, Nicel C. Estillore, Cong-Duan Vo, Steven P. Armes, and Rigoberto C. Advincula

    Organizations: Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical Engineering, UniVersity of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-5003, and Department of Chemistry, UniVersity of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK

    The fabrication of a multicomponent responsive polymer ultrathin film through the combined use of the layer-by-layer (LbL) and surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) techniques is described. Through the use of the weak polyelectrolytes poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and two alternately charged atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) macroinitiators, a pH-controlled membrane was prepared capable of SIP. Polymerization of n-isopropylacrylamide to form PNIPAM brushes on top of this membrane surface created a thermally responsive layer. The combination of these two systems created a dual control mechanism for permeability through the membrane where pH control can be utilized on the polyelectrolyte LbL layers and thermal control on the polymer brushes. A series of experiments including electrochemistry, contact angle, and in-situ ellipsometry were used to demonstrate these effects. It is possible that other stimuliresponsive systems can be designed using the two independent macromolecular assembly and synthesis protocols.