Formation of poly(octadecyl acrylate) brushes on a silicon wafer surface

Ozturk E., Turan E., ÇAYKARA T.

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, vol.61, no.4, pp.581-586, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 61 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/pi.3207
  • Journal Name: POLYMER INTERNATIONAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.581-586
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

To introduce an ultrahydrophobic polymeric phase onto a silicon wafer, an initiator-modified silicon wafer was prepared with 2-bromopropionyl bromide and then surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of octadecyl acrylate was carried out from the initiator-grafted silicon wafer using CuBr and N,N,N',N-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalyst precursors. The resultant poly(octadecyl acrylate) [poly(ODA)] brushes were characterized by ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing angle Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, gel permeation chromatography and water contact angle measurements. Wettability of the poly(ODA) brushes was found to depend on the surface coverage (G) and the root mean square roughness. The most hydrophobic surface (G = 25.35 mg m-2 and root mean square roughness 11.9 nm) exhibited a water contact angle of 171.1 +/- 0.2 degrees. Copyright (C) 2011 Society of Chemical Industry