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DOE OSTI · 3002081

Dual-Responsive Macromolecular Surfaces with Binary Patterns

Ge, Jin [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000321690218)·Rong, Li-Han [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:000000029351059X)·Cheng, Xiang [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000233083506)·Tang, Yao [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)]·Pochan, Darrin J. [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)] (ORCID:0000000204542339)·Caldona, Eugene B. [North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND (United States)] (ORCID:0000000259442263)·Advincula, Rigoberto C. [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000228994778)
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Abstract

The development of nanopatterned interfaces incorporating multiple stimuli-responsive polymers has great potential for advancing smart sensors and molecular capture devices, yet it remains challenging due to limitations in patterning techniques and “grafting from” methods. Here, we present a binary-patterned surface featuring honeycomb-shaped photothermal polypyrrole (PPy) and thermally responsive poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate) [poly(EGMEA-co-PEGMEA)] brushes within the cavities, fabricated using colloidal lithography and surface-initiated photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (SI-PET-RAFT) polymerization. The morphology of the surface can be precisely tuned by adjusting the height of each domain. This design integrates unique topographical features with the stimuli-responsiveness of the polymer, enabling the collapse of the copolymer brushes through direct heating or photothermal conversion of PPy under near-IR light. In conclusion, this innovative system offers potential capture-release functionality, providing versatility for diverse applications and enhancing adaptability across different functional scenarios.

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Ge, Jin [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000321690218), Rong, Li-Han [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:000000029351059X), Cheng, Xiang [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000233083506), Tang, Yao [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)], Pochan, Darrin J. [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)] (ORCID:0000000204542339), Caldona, Eugene B. [North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND (United States)] (ORCID:0000000259442263), Advincula, Rigoberto C. [Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000228994778). 2025-02-24. Dual-Responsive Macromolecular Surfaces with Binary Patterns. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.4c02973

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