Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Plasma & Coating Group, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Molecules. 2020 Dec 19;25(24):6024. doi: 10.3390/molecules25246024.
The concept of depositing solid films on low-vapor pressure liquids is introduced and developed into a top-down approach to functionalize surfaces by attaching liquid polyethylene glycol (PEG). Solid-liquid gradients were formed by low-pressure plasma treatment yielding cross-linking and/or deposition of a plasma polymer film subsequently bound to a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backing. The analysis via optical transmission spectroscopy (OTS), optical, confocal laser scanning (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as by water contact angle (WCA) measurements revealed correlations between optical appearance, chemical composition and surface properties of the resulting water absorbing, covalently bound PEG-functionalized surfaces. Requirements for plasma polymer film deposition on low-vapor pressure liquids and effective surface functionalization are defined. Namely, the thickness of the liquid PEG substrate was a crucial parameter for successful film growth and covalent attachment of PEG. The presented method is a practicable approach for the production of functional surfaces featuring long-lasting strong hydrophilic properties, making them predestined for non-fouling or low-friction applications.
引入并发展了在低蒸气压液体上沉积固体薄膜的概念，将其开发成一种通过附着液态聚乙二醇（PEG）来功能化表面的自上而下的方法。通过低压等离子体处理形成固-液梯度，随后交联和/或沉积等离子体聚合物膜，该膜随后与柔性聚二甲基硅氧烷（PDMS）背衬结合。通过光学透过率光谱（OTS）、光学、共焦激光扫描（CLSM）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、傅里叶变换红外（FTIR）和X 射线光电子能谱（XPS）以及水接触角（WCA）测量进行的分析揭示了所得吸水、共价键合 PEG 功能化表面的光学外观、化学成分和表面性质之间的相关性。定义了在低蒸气压液体上沉积等离子体聚合物膜和有效表面功能化的要求。即，液体 PEG 基底的厚度是成功进行薄膜生长和 PEG 共价附着的关键参数。所提出的方法是生产具有持久强亲水性能的功能表面的实用方法，使它们非常适合用于非粘性或低摩擦应用。
