First insights into electrografted polymers by AFM-based force spectroscopy

The very first characterization of the structural properties of polymer films obtained by electrografting is reported. AFM-based force spectroscopy was used to investigate poly-N-succinimidyl acrylate (PNSA) layers electrografted directly from a silicon substrate. Quantitative analysis of compression profiles obtained in a good solvent and single molecule bridging interaction, in light of the Alexander-de Gennes model, gave access to the grafting density and degree of polymerization. A high swelling capacity has been evidenced. This report is the first evidence that polymers obtained by cathodic electrografting are in fact brush systems, and consequently the first evidence that a polymer brush can be obtained from a direct "grafting from" method, without any intermediate layer.