pH-Switchable Optical Properties of the One-Dimensional Periodic Grating of Tethered Poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) Brushes on a Silicon Surface

Abstract

In this paper we used a novel fabrication process, involving very-large-scale integration and oxygen plasma treatment, to generate well-defined patterns of polymerized (2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (DMAEMA) as a one-dimensional periodic relief grating on silicon surfaces. The resolutions of the line patterns of the PDMAEMA brushes approached 400 nm. We describe an aqueous-based process controlled at a one-dimensional periodic grating. The line patterns of PDMAEMA brushes could generate water contact angles (WCAs) and refractive indices for TM and TE polarization on the surface because of one-dimensional binary periodic relief grating. The effective refractive index for TM polarization could be tuned between 1.18 and 1.28 upon increasing the pH from 2 to 12. The effective refractive index for TE polarization of the optical grating increased rapidly from 1.28 to 1.38 upon increasing the pH from 2 to 12; it returned to 1.29 after decreasing pH from 12 to 2. These reversibly tunable properties are created from a reversible pH-induced swelling transition of tethered PDMAEMA. In addition, the filling factors of the periodic grating were calculated to illustrate the conformational changes of tethered PDMAEMA in the binary grating. Such films, easily patterned by an inkjet printing technique, possess potential for pH-responsive biomaterial and membrane applications.

Preparation and characterization of dual-responsive spiropyran-based random copolymer brushes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

“…[12][13][14][15] Therefore, surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) is one kind of the effective method for preparing structure-controlled polymer brushes. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] With the development of the research on the smart material, stimuli-responsive polymers have attracted significant interest. When they are subjected to external environmental stimuli, [24] such as the changes of solvent, [25] temperature, [26][27][28] ionic strength, [29] pH, [30,31] and light irradiation, [32,33] the molecular chains of the corresponding stimuli-responsive polymer brushes will generate a conformational change, leading to the changes in the properties of polymer brushes.…”

Two‐Dimensional Periodic Relief Gratings as a Versatile Platform for Label‐Free Specific DNA Detection

“…Nanopillar arrays (NPL) are symmetrical 2‐D periodic surfaces—that are currently attracting great interest for their potential applications in grating or photonics . NPLs have unique optical properties that result from their 1‐D geometries, including polarized photoresponses, diameter‐tunable band structures, and biosensing ability . Through careful design of the NPLA structure, highly efficient diffraction gratings can be synthesized, even with a binary profile.…”

“…Through careful design of the NPLA structure, highly efficient diffraction gratings can be synthesized, even with a binary profile. When the NPLA element is a one‐dimensional periodic surface or an unsymmetrical two‐dimensional periodic surface, the effective refractive index depends upon the polarization states of the incident light ( Figure ) . Symmetrical 2‐D periodic surfaces are currently attracting great interest for their potential applications in gratings or photonics .…”

Polarity-indicative two-dimensional periodic relief gratings of tethered poly(methyl methacrylate) on silicon surfaces for visualization in volatile organic compound sensing

“…13 When the gratings interact specifically or nonspecifically with target molecules, the geometrical parameters of the gratings and/or the refractive index contrast typically change. 14 In this paper, we describe a simple method to pattern poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brush as a two-dimensional periodic relief gratings (2DPRGs) by lithography and oxygen plasma treatment (OPT).…”