Surface‐Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Oligo(ethylene glycol) Methacrylate: Effect of Solvent on Graft Density

Abstract Summary: Oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) was grafted from silicon wafer surfaces by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with Cu I Br/2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) as a catalyst and various water/alcohol mixtures as solvents. The ellipsometric thickness of the poly(OEGMA) layer on the surface increased linearly with monomer conversion in solution. High graft densities were achieved in alcohols. The graft …