Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

3.1K
The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
3.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Chromatin biomarkers reveal the fingerprints of cancer-associated secretomes isolated by a micropillar-guided platform.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Characterizing sliding and rolling contacts between single particles.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Phase separation of a microtubule plus-end tracking protein into a fluid fractal network.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Fluid confinement within a branched polymer structure enhances tribological performance of a poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)-surface-modified contact lens.

Royal Society open science·2024
Same author

Fixed-target pump-probe SFX: eliminating the scourge of light contamination.

IUCrJ·2024
Same author

Quantitative Comparison of the Hydration Capacity of Surface-Bound Dextran and Polyethylene Glycol.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

3D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization
07:28

3D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

Published on: February 18, 2022

4.3K

Light-responsive polymer surfaces via postpolymerization modification of grafted polymer-brush structures.

Matthias Dübner1, Nicholas D Spencer, Celestino Padeste

  • 1Laboratory for Micro- and Nanotechnology, Paul Scherrer Institut , CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|November 25, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Researchers created smart surfaces with nanostructured polymer brushes that change properties with light. This technology enables remote-controlled surface modifications using photoresponsive spiropyran derivatives for advanced material applications.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process
12:00

Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process

Published on: March 21, 2014

12.3K
Fabricating Reactive Surfaces with Brush-like and Crosslinked Films of Azlactone-Functionalized Block Co-Polymers
10:09

Fabricating Reactive Surfaces with Brush-like and Crosslinked Films of Azlactone-Functionalized Block Co-Polymers

Published on: June 30, 2018

8.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 20, 2026

3D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization
07:28

3D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

Published on: February 18, 2022

4.3K
Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process
12:00

Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process

Published on: March 21, 2014

12.3K
Fabricating Reactive Surfaces with Brush-like and Crosslinked Films of Azlactone-Functionalized Block Co-Polymers
10:09

Fabricating Reactive Surfaces with Brush-like and Crosslinked Films of Azlactone-Functionalized Block Co-Polymers

Published on: June 30, 2018

8.8K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Surface Science

Background:

  • Smart surfaces with switchable properties are crucial for advanced applications.
  • Photoresponsive polymers offer tunable surface characteristics upon light stimuli.
  • Nanostructuring techniques are key to achieving high-resolution surface control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop nanostructured photoresponsive polymer brushes using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) interference lithography.
  • To introduce photochromic spiropyran (SP) derivatives into polymer brushes for reversible property switching.
  • To investigate the influence of the local chemical environment on the switching kinetics and performance of these smart surfaces.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized EUV interference lithography for high-resolution patterning of polymer brushes.
  • Employed a radiation-initiated, grafting-from approach based on free-radical polymerization (FRP).
  • Introduced photochromic spiropyran (SP) derivatives via postpolymerization modification and characterized using ATR-IR spectroscopy.
  • Investigated switching kinetics using time-resolved fluorescence microscopy and measured contact angle changes.

Main Results:

  • Successfully created nanostructured photoresponsive polymer brushes with tunable photochromic properties.
  • Demonstrated reversible switching between spiropyran (SP) and merocyanine (MC) forms upon UV and visible light irradiation.
  • Identified the significant influence of the local chemical environment and polar solvents on SP/MC switching kinetics.
  • Achieved light-induced reversible static contact angle changes up to 15° for PGMA-SP and 30° for PMA-SP brushes.

Conclusions:

  • EUV lithography combined with photoresponsive polymer brushes enables the creation of high-resolution, remotely controllable smart surfaces.
  • The chemical environment critically affects the photochromic switching behavior, with polar solvents enhancing merocyanine stability.
  • These photoresponsive polymer brushes show potential for applications requiring dynamic and tunable surface properties.