Synthesis, characterization, and tunable wettability of poly(ionic liquid) brushes via nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP)

Well-defined poly (ionic liquid) brushes with tunable wettability are successfully synthesized via nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy and static water contact angle measurements are used to monitor each step. Ellipsometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C) spectra and gel permeation chromatographic measurements reveal that there is a linear increase in polymer film thickness with polymerization time, indicating that chain growth from the surface is a controlled/“living” polymerization. The surface morphology was measured by atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the surfaces of the poly (ionic liquid) brushes with tunable wettability and reversible switching between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be easily achieved by counteranion exchange.