Spatially-Controlled Surface Activation of Preformed Polymers

Polymers are increasingly being engineered for end- use in biological and electronic materials. They offer significant versatility and wide-ranging physical properties compared to metals; however, the lack of an appropriate interface between polymer surfaces and materials of interest (i.e. bodily tissue and conductive metals) remains a substantial problem. The surface of many polymers is not conducive to standard surface derivatization chemistries. Herein methods are reported that enable the covalent attachment of organic molecules to many polymers via the formation of discrete reactive metal complexes or metal oxide/alkoxide adhesion layers at polymer surfaces. These chemistries are shown to be conducive to patterning approaches, and are demonstrated to be applicable to biomedical and electronics applications.

Autorentext

T. Joseph Dennes earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Millersville University in 2004. He then studied at Princeton University under Professor Jeffrey Schwartz, and was awarded a Ph.D in Chemistry & Materials Science in 2008. He is currently a Research Chemist at DuPont Central Research and Development in Wilmington, DE.