Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is a conjugated polymer that has a wide array of applications, most importantly in semiconducting devices, but also potentially in anti-microbial polymer films. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are molecular assemblies that spontaneously adhere to surfaces by head groups and can be functionalized at the tail end to modify the properties of that surface. In this work, we are using SAMs for surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of conjugated polymers to form conjugated polymer brush (CPB) films. Previous experiments have confirmed that our group can grow P3HT from a surface that has been modified with an appropriate SAM. Because this has been established, the goal is now to determine how the amount of time the monomer is exposed to the SAM-substrate complex affects the amount of polymer formed. If the exact length of polymer can be altered based on different exposure times, it will allow us to prepare films with precise thicknesses that are most appropriate to their intended application. We will present our methodology for synthesis of functionalized SAMs, polymerization, and characterization of the resulting CPB films by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and water contact angle measurements.

Effects of self-assembled monolayers for surface-initiated polymerization of conjugated polymers on the formation of conjugated polymer brush films

ACS Spring 2022

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