ULTRATHIN SELF-ASSEMBLED POLYMERIC FILMS ON SOLID-SURFACES .2. FORMATION OF 11-(N-PENTYLDITHIO)UNDECANOATE-BEARING POLYACRYLATE MONOLAYERS ON GOLD

Polymeric monolayers of poly(methoxyethyl acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate) copolymers derivatized with 11-(n-pentyldithio)undecanoate side chains on gold surfaces have been fabricated by spontaneous self-assembly from organic solution. Experimental evidence derived from a combination of ellipsometry, polarized reflection infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that two-dimensional polymer films assemble on gold surfaces by multipoint attachment. Further experiments systematically changing polymer composition and solution concentrations for monolayer preparation reveal that polymer assemblies created by adsorption have less structural anisotropy than their corresponding conventional monomeric organic alkyl disulfides. However, these self-assembled polymer films show enhanced thermal stability in wet environments over films of monomeric organic analogs, indicating that polyfunctional polymer anchoring effects greatly improve integral adhesion and binding stabilities of ultrathin polymer assemblies.