Reversible control of free energy and topography of nanostructured surfaces.
We describe a facile method for the formation of dynamic nanostructured surfaces based on the modification of porous anodic aluminum oxide with poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The dynamic structure of these surfaces was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), which showed dramatic changes in the surface nanostructure above and below the aqueous lower critical solution temperature of PNIPAAm. These changes in surface structure are correlated with changes in the macroscopic wettability of the surfaces, which was probed by water contact angle measurements. Principal component analysis was used to develop a quantitative correlation between AFM image intensity histograms and macroscopic wettability. Such correlations and dynamic nanostructured surfaces may have a variety of uses.
Fu
Qiang
Q
Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
Rama Rao
G V
GV
Basame
Solomon B
SB
Keller
David J
DJ
Artyushkova
Kateryna
K
Fulghum
Julia E
JE
López
Gabriel P
GP
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
D000180:Acrylic Resins; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide