Probing the Growth of Light-mediated Polymer Brushes using SFG Spectroscopy
Abstract
Polymer brushes are an important class of polymers since they serve a variety of functions like lubrication, corrosion resistance, anti-fouling properties, and surface wetting properties. Their extensive use warrants studying their characteristics for improving manufacturing processes and extending their functionality. In this study we use methyl methacrylate as a model monomer to prepare a brush on Si (100) using the light-mediated polymerization method and used Sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to monitor its polymerization on the surface. Preliminary data for the SFG spectrum showed a peak at 2968 cm-1 for the PPP polarization combination that is attributed to the methoxy CH3 asymmetric stretch vibration. Other vibrational peaks coming from other functional groups appear or disappear depending at what stage of the polymerization the growth process is in. With this work, it was shown that different functional groups gets organized on the surface as the brush grows from a less dense to a more dense state of its polymerization.
Keywords:
SFG Spectroscopy, Polymer Brushes, Silicon (100), Surface and Interfaces, Chemistry
Status
G
Department
Chemistry & Biochemistry
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Campus
Athens
Faculty Mentor
Cimatu, Katherine
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Probing the Growth of Light-mediated Polymer Brushes using SFG Spectroscopy
Polymer brushes are an important class of polymers since they serve a variety of functions like lubrication, corrosion resistance, anti-fouling properties, and surface wetting properties. Their extensive use warrants studying their characteristics for improving manufacturing processes and extending their functionality. In this study we use methyl methacrylate as a model monomer to prepare a brush on Si (100) using the light-mediated polymerization method and used Sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to monitor its polymerization on the surface. Preliminary data for the SFG spectrum showed a peak at 2968 cm-1 for the PPP polarization combination that is attributed to the methoxy CH3 asymmetric stretch vibration. Other vibrational peaks coming from other functional groups appear or disappear depending at what stage of the polymerization the growth process is in. With this work, it was shown that different functional groups gets organized on the surface as the brush grows from a less dense to a more dense state of its polymerization.