In this contribution the use of phase-modulated ellipsometry to track kinetics of preferential assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers at solid-fluid interfaces will be described. The rapid response time, high-sensitivity and stability of this method allows the kinetics of adsorption to be tracked from the earliest stages of layer formation, when the surface is mostly bare, through long times, when the process becomes self-limiting due to repulsion between incoming chains and chains already-adsorbed at the interface. In addition, the ability to resolve the evolution of the structure and pair experimental measurements of adsorbed amount as a function of time with predictions from theory provide additional useful insights that improve understandings of adsorption, organization, and structure of polymer brushes made from complex copolymer architectures. The method is also amenable to in situ measurements of the swelling behavior and responsiveness of solvated brush systems.

Kinetics of assembly and structure of polymer brushes at the solid-fluid interface measured by phase modulated ellipsometry

240th National Meeting (2010)

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