Solid-Supported Polymer Membranes: How Different Deposition Methods Influence Their Inner Morphology and Properties

Solid-supported polymer membranes (SSPMs) resulting from the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers are in focus for the development of functional surfaces with enhanced stability and more chemical versatility compared to lipid-based membranes. Different methods are used to generate such polymer planar membranes, but their internal organization and the resulting properties have not yet been compared to identify the differences and guide the selection of appropriate membranes for specific applications. Here, we present SSPMs prepared by two deposition methods─the Langmuir monolayer transfer and the solvent-assisted polymer deposition─and evaluate their internal organization and key properties. Using two different amphiphilic copolymers, a diblock and a triblock, we explored the effect of the deposition method on the resulting membranes. While the Langmuir monolayer transfer method generates condensed, homogeneous planar membranes, the ones produced by the solvent-assisted polymer deposition method have a different molecular organization. Properties, including thickness, wettability, roughness and elasticity were influenced by the membrane deposition method. Differences in inner morphology and properties of membranes generated by these two deposition methods are more pronounced for triblock-based copolymer membranes than for diblock copolymer ones. Our comparative study highlights the importance of selecting a specific preparation method to achieve SSPMs with properties tailored for desired applications.