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Publication Date

2024-5

First Advisor

Kate Queeney

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Chemistry

Keywords

surface chemistry, contact angle, polymer films

Abstract

Surface wettability and surface topography are both known to influence the adhesion of organisms such as bacteria to surfaces. In pursuit of simultaneous control over these two properties, this work seeks to develop surfaces with tunable, reproducible wettability over a continuous range in such a way that preserves nanoscale surface topography. Our approach is to use thin bilayer polymer films. The first layer is poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), which adheres to both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates. The second layer is poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (PPFPA), which bonds covalently to PAH through formation of amide bonds, and is functionalized either before or after deposition with glucamine. We explore how wettability is impacted by the degree of functionalization and whether the PPFPA is functionalized before or after film deposition. The wettability of the polymer films is assessed with dynamic contact angle. Additionally, we explore the feasibility of using pH-dependent contact angle to evaluate the surface functional groups of polymer films.

Rights

©2024 Nell Fisher. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

39 pages: color illustrations charts. Includes bibliographical references (pages 38-39).

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