Surface nanostructure control with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer by templateless electropolymerization

Description

Controlling the shape of surface nanostructures is fundamental for various potential applications for example, in water harvesting systems, liquid transportation or oil/water separation membranes. Here, the creation of porous surface structures is made by a process called templateless electropolymerization, in which water (H2O) is oxidized/reduced to form gas (O2/H2) bubbles onto the surfaces and acting as soft template for the polymer growth. Keeping the monomer (thieno[3,4-b]thiophene) and the substituent (pyrene) constant, we demonstrate how a flexible PEG spacer can affect the structure shape. Here, when the PEG spacer increases, the structures change from nanotubes (1D growth), to nanoribbons (2D) and after to hollow nanospheres (3D), which also affects the wetting properties.

Abstract

International audience

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