Multilayer assembly and patterning of poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s via covalent coupling reactions

Poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s with amines and pentafluorophenyl esters on side chains were synthesized and assembled on solid substrates by sequential layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition. This approach enables the creation of robust multilayer thin films via in-situ covalent coupling reactions between successive layers. The buildup of the multilayers was followed by UV/vis absorption spectroscopy and ellipsometry. The observed complex assembly behavior suggests that both covalent and hydrogen-bonding interactions are involved in the formation of multilayer films. The organized structure and surface morphology of resultant multilayers were investigated by reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. This covalent LBL method was further applied to generate conjugated polymer micropatterns using microstamped self-assembled monolayers as templates.