PH-responsive films of electrostatically adsorbed arborescent copolymers

The adsorption of charged dendrigraft (arborescent) copolymers of different generations (G1, G2) and side chain molecular weights (Mn 5000 or 30,000) on silica surfaces in water, was monitored by the quartz crystal microbalance dissipation (QCM-D) technique. The topology of the adsorbed copolymers on mica was also investigated by AFM measurements. The PS-P2VP [polystyrene-graft- poly(2-vinylpyridine)] copolymers readily interact with a silica or mica surface and form a thin layer in acidic water (pH 2) due to the positively charged P2VP shell branches. The adsorbed arborescent PS-P2VP films expanded and collapsed reversibly in water upon cycling between low and high pH values, respectively. As the generation number increased, the density of copolymer molecules adsorbed onto the surface decreased due to stronger intermolecular electrostatic repulsions. The adsorption density also decreased significantly for copolymers with longer P2VP chains due to their more expanded conformation on the surface.