FUNCTIONALIZED THIN-FILMS - SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND POTENTIAL USE

Thin film coatings of trichloroalkylsilane compounds, such as SiCl3(CH2)nX, wherein n = 3 and 16 and X = CH3 and CN, onto silicon and glass surfaces have been prepared and characterized. The coatings prepared from the longer chain alkylsilane compounds (n = 16) were superior to coatings prepared from the short ones (n = 3). The reduction of the omega-nitrile groups of the previously described coating resulted in the formation of films containing omega primary amine groups. Studies demonstrating the effect of solvents, such as water and chloroform, on coatings containing omega primary amine groups (hydrophilic surfaces) and omega-methyl groups (hydrophobic surfaces) have been accomplished. The potential use of coatings containing omega-primary amine groups for cell immobilization have been demonstrated.