Rp. Quirk et Rt. Mathers, Surface-initiated living anionic polymerization of isoprene using a 1,1-diphenylethylene derivative and functionalization with ethylene oxide, POLYM BULL, 45(6), 2001, pp. 471-477
Living anionic polymerization of isoprene on a silicon wafer was initiated
by treatment of a 1,1-diphenylethylene surface-bound monolayer with n-butyl
lithium (growth from). The corresponding 1,1 diphenylhexyllithium derivativ
e was used to initiate isoprene polymerization. The poly(isoprenyl)lithium
chain ends were functionalized by addition of ethylene oxide to give a hydr
oxy-terminated polyisoprene brush. The thickness of the polymer brush was 9
.5 +/- 1.2 nm by ellipsometry. Grafting living chain ends to the 1,1-diphen
ylethylene monolayer and surface grafting of telechelic polymers were used
for comparison (growth to). The polymer brushes were characterized by XPS,
contact angle measurements, ATR-IR, and AFM.