Synthesis at the Air-Water Interface of a Two-Dimensional Semi-Interpenetrating Network Based on Poly(dimethylsiloxane) and Cellulose Acetate Butyrate

The UV-induced cross-linking of methacryloxypropyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) oligomers was studied at the air water interface either in pure PDMS Langmuir monolayers or in mixed films containing cellulose acetate butyrate. Surface pressure area isotherms, area measurement at constant surface pressure, Brewster angle microscopy observations, and infrared visible sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy were combined to follow the evolution of the monolayers upon in situ UV photoirradiation. For both systems, the mean area per repeat unit decreases with irradiation time reflecting the monolayer contraction. In addition, SFG measurements evidence the conversion of the methacrylate groups into unconjugated poly(methacrylate) ones. These results demonstrate PDMS cross-linking, leading to the formation of either a single PDMS network or a PDMS network entrapped in a CAB matrix. The network formation is accompanied by morphology changes as shown by atomic force microscopy on the transferred monolayer. Indeed, filamentous structures appear on both pure and mixed preirradiated monolayers.