Surface modification of gold with linear N-isoproplyacrylamide-based polymers

CHED 809

Danielle D. Draper, ddraper@wellesley.edu and Nolan T. Flynn, nflynn@wellesley.edu. Department of Chemistry, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481
Surface modification enables control of interface properties. Our work investigates surface modification using thermoresponsive polymers to alter the properties of gold surfaces. N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) and various amounts of N,N′-cystaminebisacrylamide (CBAm) are co-polymerized to produce thermoresponsive polymers (p(NIPAm-co-CBAm)) containing thiol groups. The properties of the polymers were characterized using light scattering, and FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Clean gold substrates were soaked in p(NIPAm-co-CBAm) solutions, enabling adsorption of the polymer onto the substrate. The temperature-dependent wettability of the polymer-coated surfaces was evaluated using contact angle goniometry. A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was used to monitor polymer adsorption and thermoresponsive behavior. Data from these experiments reveal trends in the physical properties of gold surfaces modified with polymers possessing various amounts of CBAm.