Surfactant-induced polymer segregation to produce antifouling surfaces via dip-coating with an amphiphilic polymer

We propose a rational strategy to control the surface segregation of an amphiphilic copolymer in its dip-coating with a low-molecular-weight surfactant. We synthesized a water-insoluble methacrylate-based copolymer containing oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) (copolymer 1) and a perfluoroalkylated surfactant (surfactant 1) containing OEG. The dip-coating of copolymer 1 with surfactant 1 resulted in the segregation of surfactant 1 on the top surface of the dip-coated layer due to the high hydrophobicity of its perfluoroalkyl group. OEG moieties of surfactant 1 were accompanied by those of copolymer 1 in its segregation, allowing the OEG moieties of copolymer 1 to be located just below the top surface of the dip-coated layer. The removal of surfactant 1 produced the surface covered by the OEG moieties of the copolymer that exhibited antifouling properties. Using this strategy, we also succeeded in the introduction of carboxy groups on the dip-coated surface and demonstrated that the carboxy groups were available for the immobilization of functional molecules on the surface.