Solid surface structure affects liquid order at the polystyrene-self-assembled-monolayer interface

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2013 Jan;87(1):012306. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.87.012306. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Abstract

We present a combined x-ray and neutron reflectivity study characterizing the interface between polystyrene (PS) and silanized surfaces. Motivated by the large difference in slip velocity of PS on top of dodecyl-trichlorosilane (DTS) and octadecyl-trichlorosilane (OTS) found in previous studies, these two systems were chosen for the present investigation. The results reveal the molecular conformation of PS on silanized silicon. Differences in the molecular tilt of OTS and DTS are replicated by the adjacent phenyl rings of the PS. We discuss our findings in terms of a potential link between the microscopic interfacial structure and dynamic properties of polymeric liquids at interfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Colloids / chemistry*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry*
  • Rheology / methods*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Colloids
  • Polystyrenes