Electrografting Method for Forming and Regulating a Strong Adherent Nanostructured Polymer Coating

Abstract

Electrografting method for forming and regulating a strongly adherent nanostructured polymer coating onto an electro-conductive surface profile characterized in that the surface profile is regulated by electrodeposition of nanometre- and/or micrometre-scale nuclei onto the surface profile prior to or simultaneously to the formation of the polymer coating.

1 . An electrografting method for forming and regulating a strongly adherent nanostructured polymer coating onto an electro-conductive surface profile characterized in that the surface profile is regulated by electrodeposition of nanometre- and/or micrometre-scale nuclei onto the surface profile prior to or simultaneously to the formation of the polymer coating. 
   
   
       2 . The electrografting method according to  claim 1  wherein the electro-conductive surface is made of conductive and semi-conductive material. 
   
   
       3 . The electrografting method according to  claim 1  characterised in that the nuclei are inorganic nuclei provided by electrodeposition of a precursor salt. 
   
   
       4 . The electrografting method according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 a) regulating the surface profile by inorganic, preferably metallic, nuclei deposition onto the conductive surface upon application of a potential x to said surface immersed in a solution comprising a monomer and a precursor salt prior to or alternate with   b) forming a nanostructured polymer by application of a potential y onto the resulting surface profile.   
   
   
       5 . The electrografting method according to  claim 4  characterised in that the potential y equals the potential x. 
   
   
       6 . The electrografting method according to  claim 4  characterised in that the potential x is applied repeatedly during the formation of the nanostructured polymer onto the resulting surface profile. 
   
   
       7 . The electrografting method according to  claim 4  characterised in that the potentials x and y are applied repeatedly with different values. 
   
   
       8 . The electrografting method according to  claim 1  characterised in that the nuclei are made of metallic nuclei selected from the group consisting of a transition metal or a combination of transition metals. 
   
   
       9 . The electrografting method according to  claim 1  characterised in that the nuclei are made of an organic material provided by electrodeposition from a monomer droplet. 
   
   
       10 . The electrografting method according to  claim 9  characterised in that the nuclei further comprise a polymer provided by polymerisation of the monomer droplet at the conductive surface upon application of a potential z. 
   
   
       11 . The electrografting method according to  claim 9  characterised in that the monomer droplet is provided by an emulsion comprising the monomer in a protic solvent. 
   
   
       12 . The electrografting method according to  claim 11  characterised in that the emulsion further comprises a surfactant. 
   
   
       13 . The electrografting method according to  claim 11  characterised in that the protic solvent is water. 
   
   
       14 . The electrografting method according to  claim 10  characterised in that the potential z is applied repeatedly with different values. 
   
   
       15 . The electrografting method according to  claim 1  comprising a nucleation step at the electroconductive surface inducing nanostructuration of the coating. 
   
   
       16 . The nanostructured polymer coating obtained by the electrografting method according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       17 . Use of the nanostructured polymer coating according to  claim 16  for a medical device application. 
   
   
       18 . Use of the nanostructured polymer coating according to  claim 16  for a biosensor application. 
   
   
       19 . Use of the nanostructured polymer coating according to  claim 16  for a microfluidic application.