XPS investigation of water-soluble copolymer surfactants on interface

The possible molecule conformation of a new type of polymer surfactant at a ir/solid interface, acrylamide-poly(oxyethylene alkyl ether)acrylate-anioni c monomer random copolymers, was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscop y in detail. By means of changing the detection angle, group composition at surface layer in thickness of 0 similar to 2.5 nm can be obtained. The res ults show that the surface activity of the copolymers related closely with the conformation of the groups of the copolymers. The hydrophobic backbone of the copolymer plays the most important role in enhancing surface activit y. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.