Solventless fabrication of porous-on-porous materials

Surface modification of paper-based microfluidic devices via initiated chemical vapor deposition

Paper-based microfluidic devices offer an ideal platform for biological and environmental detection because they are low-cost, small, disposable, and fill by natural capillary action. In this tutorial review, we discuss the surface modification of paper-based microfluidic devices with functional polymers using the initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) process. The iCVD process is solventless and therefore ideal for coating cellulose paper because there are no surface tension effects or solvent compatibility issues. The process can also be scaled up for roll-to-roll manufacturing. The chemical functionality of the iCVD coating can be tuned by varying the monomer and the structure of the coating can be tuned by varying the processing parameters.

Nanotopographical control of surfaces using chemical vapor deposition processes

In recent years much work has been conducted in order to create patterned and structured polymer coatings using vapor deposition techniques - not only via post-deposition treatment, but also directly during the deposition process. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures can be achieved via various vapor deposition strategies, for instance, using masks, exploiting surface properties that lead to spatially selective deposition, via the use of additional porogens or by employing oblique angle polymerization deposition. Here, we provide a concise review of these studies.

Polymer Thin Films and Surface Modification by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Recent Progress

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization uses vapor phase monomeric reactants to synthesize organic thin films directly on substrates. These thin films are desirable as conformal surface engineering materials and functional layers. The facile tunability of the films and their surface properties allow successful integration of CVD thin films into prototypes for applications in surface modification, device fabrication, and protective films. CVD polymers also bridge microfabrication technology with chemical and biological systems. Robust coatings can be achieved via CVD methods as antifouling, anti-icing, and antihydrate surfaces, as well as stimuli-responsive or biocompatible polymers and novel nanostructures. Use of low-energy input, modest vacuum, and room-temperature substrates renders CVD polymerization compatible with thermally sensitive substrates and devices. Compared with solution-based methods, CVD is particularly useful for insoluble materials, such as electrically conductive polymers and controllably crosslinked networks, and has the potential to reduce environmental, health, and safety impacts associated with solvents. This review discusses the relevant background and selected applications of recent advances by two methods that display and use the high retention of the organic functional groups from their respective monomers, initiated CVD (iCVD) and oxidative CVD (oCVD) polymerization.