Light Driven Nano-Phase Separation in Polymer Brushes

在这个项目中，我们的目标是在混合聚合物刷中建立光触发的可逆纳米相分离。在适当波长的光照射下，两种不同类型的聚合物链（每一种共价附着在固体表面）的分离将导致聚合物薄膜性质的可逆变化，如形貌、表面能和局部化学成分。我们计划利用这些类型的聚合物薄膜来开发不同的应用，例如吸附纳米物体的重新定位。聚合物表面的组成及其对光学触发器的响应将相应地调整。光敏性是通过使用共价或离子连接将含偶氮苯的分子加载到其中一个聚合物块中来引入的。聚合物表面本身不是预先结构的，任何形态或表面能的变化都是由其对定制的光刺激的光敏反应引起的。

In this project we aim at establishing light triggered reversible nano-phase separation in mixed polymer brushes. During illumination with light of appropriate wave length de-mixing of two different types of polymer chains, each covalently attached to a solid surface, will result in reversible changes in polymer film properties such as topography, surface energy and local chemical composition. These types of polymer films we plan to utilize for developing distinct applications, such as the relocation of adsorbed nano-objects. The composition of the polymer surface as well as its response to the optical trigger will be adapted accordingly. The photo-sensitivity is introduced by loading one of the polymer blocks with azobenzene-containing molecules using either covalent or ionic attachment. The polymer surface itself is not pre-structured, any changes in morphology or surface energy will result from its photosensitive response to a tailored optical stimulus.