temperature responsive ps-b-pnipam grafted substrates developed by surface-initiated atrp technique

We present a general approach for using surface-grafted stimuli-responsive diblock copolymer brushes as stimuli-sensitive systems. surface-initiated atrp was used to grow sequentially a first block and a second block that acts as a stimuli-responsive outer layer controlling the closure or opening of the brush in water. the diblock copolymer brushes of polystyrene-b-poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (ps-b-pnipam) were synthesized to demonstrate the thermosensitive wetting behaviour of surfaces based on the lcst-determined solubility switching between swollen and collapsed pnipam chains.