Block Copolymer Monolayers at Surfaces

Monolayers on surfaces have become a topic of considerable interest over the last few years. This has arisen from the need to functionalize a surface so that its properties are different than the properties of the bulk material. This research has involved functionalizing copper surfaces to enhance adhesion to epoxy. We have accomplished this using block copolymers made by Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP). In this paper we discuss the synthesis and characterization of these block copolymers and their segregated monolayer conformation at copper surfaces, including NMR, GPC, SANS, neutron reflectivity, and TOF-SIMS. We also discuss a comparison of block copolymers to SAMS for surface functionalization.Monolayers on surfaces have become a topic of considerable interest over the last few years. This has arisen from the need to functionalize a surface so that its properties are different than the properties of the bulk material. This research has involved functionalizing copper surfaces to enhance adhesion to epoxy. We have accomplished this using block copolymers made by Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP). In this paper we discuss the synthesis and characterization of these block copolymers and their segregated monolayer conformation at copper surfaces, including NMR, GPC, SANS, neutron reflectivity, and TOF-SIMS. We also discuss a comparison of block copolymers to SAMS for surface functionalization.