PEG Brushes on Porous, PDMS‐Coated Surfaces and Their Interaction with Carbon Dioxide. Issue 8 (10th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gunkel‐Grabole, Gesine; Car, Anja; Naik, Vikrant V.; Marot, Laurent; Ferk, Gregor; Palivan, Cornelia; Meier, Wolfgang
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular chemistry and physics. Volume 217:Issue 8(2016:Apr.)
• Page Start: 966
• Page End: 973
• Publication Date: 2016-02-10
• Subjects: carbon dioxide -- polydimethylsiloxane -- polyethylene glycol -- polymer brush -- porous membrane; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Synthetic products -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201500450
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1352

Abstract

Abstract : A porous polymeric substrate covered with a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating is used for the surface‐initiated polymerization of polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐based polymer brushes. Successful synthesis of the brushes is evidenced by several methods and their impact on the characteristics of the polymeric multilayer substrate is studied. Investigation into the behavior of PEG‐based brushes using atomic force microscopy and multiple transmission‐reflection infrared (MTR‐FTIR) spectroscopy reveals conformational changes of the brush chains upon exposure to carbon dioxide. The results presented here highlight an elegant way to covalently modify porous, PDMS‐coated substrates with polymer brushes to alter their characteristics. Abstract : Polymer brushes are synthesized via surface‐initiated polymerization on polydimethylsiloxane coated, porous polymeric membranes. The polymerization reaction and the impact on the membrane's overall properties are studied in detail. Furthermore, the interaction between the PEG brushes and carbon dioxide is elucidated and reveals interesting insights, which underline the potential of polymer brushes to modify membrane characteristics.