Amphiphilic block copolymer surface composition: Effects of spin coating versus spray coating

A deep look into the spray coating process in real-time-the crucial role of x-rays

Tailoring functional thin films and coating by rapid solvent-based processes is the basis for the fabrication of large scale high-end applications in nanotechnology. Due to solvent loss of the solution or dispersion inherent in the installation of functional thin films and multilayers the spraying and drying processes are strongly governed by non-equilibrium kinetics, often passing through transient states, until the final structure is installed. Therefore, the challenge is to observe the structural build-up during these coating processes in a spatially and time-resolved manner on multiple time and length scales, from the nanostructure to macroscopic length scales. During installation, the interaction of solid-fluid interfaces and between the different layers, the flow and evaporation themselves determine the structure of the coating. Advanced x-ray scattering methods open a powerful pathway for observing the involved processes in situ, from the spray to the coating, and allow for gaining deep insight in the nanostructuring processes. This review first provides an overview over these rapidly evolving methods, with main focus on functional coatings, organic photovoltaics and organic electronics. Secondly the role and decisive advantage of x-rays is outlined. Thirdly, focusing on spray deposition as a rapidly emerging method, recent advances in investigations of spray deposition of functional materials and devices via advanced x-ray scattering methods are presented.

Thin Isoporous Block Copolymer Membranes: It Is All about the Process

The combination of the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers and the nonsolvent induced phase inversion process offers an efficient way to isoporous integral-asymmetric membranes. In this context we report fast, easily upscalable and material reducing ways to thin self-assembled membranes. Therefore, we succeeded to implement a spray or dip coating step into the membrane formation process of different diblock copolymers like polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(α-methylstyrene)-bock-poly(4-vinylpyridine), and polystyrene-block-poly(iso-propylglycidyl methacrylate). The formation of hexagonal pore structures was possible using a highly diluted one solvent system allowing the reduction of diblock copolymer consumption and therefore the production costs are minimized compared to conventional blade casting approaches. The broad applicability of the process was proven by using different flat and hollow fiber support materials. Furthermore, the membranes made by this new method showed a more than 6-fold increase in water flux compared to conventional polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) membranes with similar pore sizes prepared by blade casting. The membranes could be proven to be stable at transmembrane pressures of 2 bar and showed a pH responsive flux behavior over several cycles.

Surface Structure and Hydration of Sequence-Specific Amphiphilic Polypeptoids for Antifouling/Fouling Release Applications

Amphiphilic polypeptoids can be designed with specific sequences of hydrophilic and hydrophobic units, which determine their surface properties for antifouling/fouling release purposes. Although the sequence-dependent surface structures of polypeptoids have been extensively investigated, e.g., with X-ray spectroscopy, their molecular structures under the aqueous conditions relevant to marine fouling have not been studied. In this work, we applied sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy to study the surface structures and hydration of a series of amphiphilic polypeptoid coatings with different sequences in air and water. SFG spectra, in agreement with X-ray spectroscopy studies, revealed that the surface coverage of the hydrophilic N-(2-methoxyethyl)glycine (Nme) units in air is affected by both the number and position of the hydrophobic N-(heptafluorobutyl)glycine (NF) units in the peptoid chain and is negatively correlated with the surface concentration of the fluorine element. Our ability to probe the SFG signals of water molecules at the peptoid surface provides new information on the hydrated film properties. From these SFG signals and the time evolution of water contact angles on the polymers, we see that the hydrated film properties are also dependent upon the peptoid sequence. This work indicates that the surface presence of the Nme groups and the ability of the polymers to order and strongly hydrogen bond with interfacial water molecules determine their antifouling properties, whereas the surface restructuring rate upon contact with water affects their fouling release behaviors.

Isoporous block copolymer membranes

The developments in membranes based on tailored block copolymers are reported with an emphasis on isoporous membranes. These membranes can be prepared in different geometries, namely flat sheets and hollow fibers. They display narrow pore size distributions due to their formation by self-assembly. The preparation of these membranes and possibilities to further functionalize such membranes will be discussed. Different ways to control the pore size will be addressed, and the potential of block copolymer blends to fabricate membranes with tailored pore sizes will be shown.

Amphiphilic triblock copolymers with PEGylated hydrocarbon structures as environmentally friendly marine antifouling and fouling-release coatings

The ideal marine antifouling (AF)/fouling-release (FR) coating should be non-toxic, while effectively either resisting the attachment of marine organisms (AF) or significantly reducing their strength of attachment (FR). Many recent studies have shown that amphiphilic polymeric materials provide a promising solution to producing such coatings due to their surface dual functionality. In this work, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of different molecular weights (Mw = 350, 550) was coupled to a saturated difunctional alkyl alcohol to generate amphiphilic surfactants (PEG-hydrocarbon-OH). The resulting macromolecules were then used as side chains to covalently modify a pre-synthesized PS8 K-b-P(E/B)25 K-b-PI10 K (SEBI or K3) triblock copolymer, and the final polymers were applied to glass substrata through an established multilayer surface coating technique to prepare fouling resistant coatings. The coated surfaces were characterized with AFM, XPS and NEXAFS, and evaluated in laboratory assays with two important fouling algae, Ulva linza (a green macroalga) and Navicula incerta, a biofilm-forming diatom. The results suggest that these polymer-coated surfaces undergo surface reconstruction upon changing the contact medium (polymer/air vs polymer/water), due to the preferential interfacial aggregation of the PEG segment on the surface in water. The amphiphilic polymer-coated surfaces showed promising results as both AF and FR coatings. The sample with longer PEG chain lengths (Mw = 550 g mol(-1)) exhibited excellent properties against both algae, highlighting the importance of the chemical structures on ultimate biological performance. Besides reporting synthesis and characterization of this new type of amphiphilic surface material, this work also provides insight into the nature of PEG/hydrocarbon amphiphilic coatings, and this understanding may help in the design of future generations of fluorine-free, environmentally friendly AF/FR polymeric coatings.