Molecular engineering of designer surfaces by controlled radical polymerizations: brushes, hedges and hybrid grafts

The aim of the work described in this Thesis was to develop new fabrication techniques based on surface-initiated controlled polymerization (SIP) for the preparation of functional polymeric platforms across the lengthscales. Several synthetic processes based on controlled radical SIP were employed for the preparation of polymer brush platforms which presented tunable characteristics and, in some instances, a stimulus-responsive behavior. The SIP methods employed were furthermore coupled with atomic force microscopy (AFM)-assisted nanolithographic approaches in order to accomplish the preparation of polymer grafts constituted by a limited number of macromolecules grown on pre-determined positions on surfaces.