GROWTH OF ULTRATHIN COVALENTLY ATTACHED POLYMER-FILMS - UNIFORM THIN-FILMS FOR CHEMICAL MICROSENSORS

A novel approach to covalently attached polymer films by surface funct ionalization and hydrosilylation reaction with reactive polymers on th e surface is reported. Stable, uniform, and highly sensitive thin film sensors can thus be fabricated. The covalent attachment of polymer th rough a silane linker results in films with high uniformity, stability , and reasonable reproducibility as far as film thickness is concerned . Incorporation of molecular recognition reagents into the sensing fil m increases the sensor sensitivity dramatically, which is critical for detecting vapors such as certain explosives at parts per thousand or parts per billion levels. The sensors fabricated can detect o-nitrotol uene, a TNT simulant, at parts per billion concentrations.