POLYMERIZATION OF A THIOL-BOUND STYRENE MONOLAYER

The polymerization of a self-assembled monolayer of (mercaptomethyl)st yrene is monitored in situ with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. C hemisorption of this thiol-containing styrene involves the loss of the S-H bond. The vinyl stretching mode at 1625 cm(-1), which disappears during both azo- and photoinitiated surface polymerization, is used to follow the kinetics of the process. Laser desorption/Fourier-transfor m ion cyclotron resonance/mass spectrometry confirms the transformatio n of the initiated monomer into a nondesorbable species.