title: Chitosan-silane sol-gel hybrid thin films with controllable layer thickness and morphology.
abstract: The preparation of thin films of chitosan-silane hybrid materials by combining sol-gel processing and spin coating is reported. A variety of silanes can be used as starting materials for the preparation of such thin films, namely tetraethoxysilane, tri-tert-butoxysilanol, trimethylethoxysilane, p-trifluoromethyltetra-fluorophenyltriethoxysilane, trivinylmethoxysilane, (methoxymethyl)trimethyl-silane, and hexamethoxydisilane. These silanes are subjected to a sol-gel process before they are added to acidic chitosan solutions. The chitosan:silane ratio is kept constant at 6:1 (w/w) and dilutions with ethanol are prepared and spin coated. Depending on the degree of dilution, film thickness can be controlled in a range between 5 and 70 nm. For the determination of additional surface properties, static water contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy have been employed.
authors: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Institut für Chemie, Heinrichstrasse 28/III, 8010 Graz, Austria. stefan.spirk@uni-graz.at
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Spirk
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Findenig
authors: Ales
authors: A
authors: Doliska
authors: Victoria E
authors: VE
authors: Reichel
authors: Nicole L
authors: NL
authors: Swanson
authors: Rupert
authors: R
authors: Kargl
authors: Volker
authors: V
authors: Ribitsch
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Stana-Kleinschek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003386:Brachyura / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels; D012821:Silanes; D048271:Chitosan