Functional Polymer Films, 2 Volume Set

Very thin film materials have emerged as a highly interesting and useful quasi 2D-state functionality. They have given rise to numerous applications ranging from protective and smart coatings to electronics, sensors and display technology as well as serving biological, analytical and medical purposes. The tailoring of polymer film properties and functions has become a major research field. As opposed to the traditional treatise on polymer and resin-based coatings, this one-stop reference is the first to give readers a comprehensive view of the latest macromolecular and supramolecular film-based nanotechnology. Bringing together all the important facets and state-of-the-art research, the two well-structured volumes cover film assembly and depostion, functionality and patterning, and analysis and characterization. The result is an in-depth understanding of the phenomena, ordering, scale effects, fabrication, and analysis of polymer ultrathin films. This book will be a valuable addition for Materials Scientists, Polymer Chemists, Surface Scientists, Bioengineers, Coatings Specialists, Chemical Engineers, and Scientists working in this important research field and industry.

Table of Contents:
Volume 1: Preparation and Patterning PART I: Preparation A PERSPECTIVE AND INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC AND POLYMER ULTRATHIN FILMS: DEPOSITION, NANOSTRUCTURING, BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION, AND SURFACE ANALYTICAL METHODS MULTIFUNCTIONAL LAYER-BY-LAYER ARCHITECTURES FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS Introduction Drug Delivery and LbL Interaction of Cells with LbL Films: Adhesion, Proliferation, Stimulation, and Differentiation Plasmid DNA (pDNA)-Based Gene Therapy and LbL Films Exotic Applications of LbL Inspired by Biology THE LAYER-BY-LAYER ASSEMBLIES OF POLYELECTROLYTES AND NANOMATERIALS AS FILMS AND PARTICLE COATINGS Layer-by-Layer (LbL) Self-Assembly Technique The Properties of Polyelectrolytes Adsorption of Polyelectrolytes Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Formation on Flat Surfaces Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Formation on Colloidal Particles Applications of Layer-by-Layer Films and Particles Advincula Group Research on Layer-by-Layer Films and Particle Coatings LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-KUHN ULTILAYER ASSEMBLIES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE LB TECHNOLOGY Introduction Historical Background Basic Procedures and Characterization Methods Types of Materials Used in Producing LB Films Trends in Research Activity on LB Films Highlights of Research in LB Films Concluding Remarks SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS: THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL NANOSCALE FILMS Introduction Historical Background for Monolayer Films Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) Fundamentals SAM Phenomena Manipulation of Adsorbate Structure Conclusions POLYELECTROLYTE BRUSHES: TWENTY YEARS AFTER Introduction - Scope of the Review Definitions How to Make Polyelectrolyte Brushes? Simple Observations and Theoretical Concepts Beyond Simplicity Toward the Application of Polyelectrolyte Brushes Conclusion PREPARATION OF POLYMER BRUSHES USING "GRAFTING-FROM" TECHNIQUES Introduction to Polymer Brushes and Their Formation Methods for Synthesis of Polymer Brushes Surface-Initiated ATRP Summary ULTRATHIN FUNCTIONAL POLYMER FILMS USING PLASMA-ASSISTED DEPOSITION Introduction Choice of Precursors Polymerization Mechanisms and Chemical Structure Properties of Ultrathin Functional Plasma Polymers Summary PREPARATION OF POLYMER THIN FILMS BY PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION Introduction Overview of PVD of Polymers Direct Evaporation of Polymers Stepwise Polymerization by Coevaporation of Bifunctional Monomers Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Surface-Initiated Vapor-Deposition Polymerization Conclusions ELECTRO-OPTICAL APPLICATIONS OF CONJUGATED POLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Properties of Organic Semiconductors and Conjugated Polymers Synthetic Methods Characterization Methods Device Fabrication Concluding Remarks ULTRATHIN FILMS OF CONJUGATED POLYMER NETWORKS: A PRECURSOR POLYMER APPROACH TOWARD ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICES, SENSORS, AND NANOPATTERNING Introduction Materials and Examples Conclusions PART II: Patterning NANOPATTERNING ND FUNCTIONALITY OF BLOCK-COPOLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Nanoscale Patterning with BCPs Functionality of BCP Thin Films Summary and Outlook PATTERNING BY PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY Introduction Deep-UV Lithography 193-nm Lithography 157-nm Lithography 193-nm Immersion Lithography Next-Generation Lithographic Technology Summary NANOPATTERNING OF POLYMER BRUSH THIN FILMS BY ELECTRON-BEAM LITHOGRAPHY AND SCANNING PROBE LITHOGRAPHY Introduction Electron-Beam Lithography Scanning Probe Lithography Conclusions DIRECT PATTERNING FOR ACTIVE POLYMERS Introduction Direct Photopatterning by Photocross-Linking Direct Photopatterning by Photo-Oxidation Direct Patterning by Photoinduced Acidification Reversible Patterning Conclusion NANOPATTERNING OF PHOTOSENSITIVE POLYMER FILMS Introduction Nanofabrication by a Tightly Focused Laser Beam Near-Field Nanofabrication beyond the Diffraction Limit of Light Two-Photon Patterning Conclusion Volume 2: Characterization and Application PART III: Characterization DYNAMICS OF THERMOMECHANICS OF POLYMER FILMS Introduction Experimental Techniques Dynamics Thermomechanical Properties Conclusion and Outlook INVESTIGATIONS OF SOFT ORGANIC FILMS WITH ELLIPSOMETRY Introduction Modeling Multiple-Angle Ellipsometry and Total Internal Reflection Ellipsometry Fourier-Transform Ellipsometry Comparison of Optical and Acoustic Reflectometry Summary and Conclusions SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF THIN HYDROGEL COATINGS Introduction Fabrication of Surface-Attached Networks and Characterization Techniques Thermodynamics of Confined Hydrogels Thermodynamics of Confined, Responsive Hydrogels Swelling-Induced Surface Instabilities in Confined Hydrogels Summary and Concluding Remarks SCATTERING TECHNIQUES FOR THIN POLYMER FILMS Introduction Structure of Polymer/Polymer Interfaces Revealed by Reflectivity Block Copolymer Thin Films Measured with Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Thin Films of Organic Semiconductors Measured with X-Ray Scattering Transmission X-Ray Scattering Summary NANOSTRUCTURED OPTICAL WAVEGUIDES FOR THIN-FILM CHARACTERIZATION Introduction Experimental Techniques Theoretical Descriptions Cylindrical Nanostructures as Optical Waveguides Isotropic Mesoporous Waveguides Nanostructured Nanorod Arrays by Templating Strategies Conclusions ELECTROCHEMICAL SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE METHODS FOR POLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Electrochemical Surface Plasmon Spectroscopy Evaluation of Polymer Thin Films by EC-SPR Electrochemical SPR-SPPL Electrochemical SPR Microscopy Simultaneous Electrochemical-Atomic Force Microscopy-SPR Application to Bio/Chemical Sensors EC-SPR Method - Grating-Coupling Surface Plasmon Excitation Combination of Electrochemical-Quartz Crystal Microbalance Electrochemical SPR under High Pressure Conclusions CHARACTERIZATION OF MOLECULARLY THIN POLYMER LAYERS WITH THE SURFACE FORCES APPARATUS (SFA) Introduction: Polymer Layers Adsorbed on and Confined between Solid Surfaces Force Measurements with the Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA) Forces in Systems with Adsorbing or Nonadsorbing Homopolymer Forces in Systems with End-Adsorbed Polymer Interactions between Dry Polymer Layers: Adhesion Importance of Polymer Interactions for Applications BIOMIMETIC THIN FILMS AS A QCM-D SENSOR PLATFORM TO DETECT MACROMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS Introduction Brief Overview of Quartz Crystals QCM Methodologies: Steady-State versus Transient Behavior Q CM-D Analysis of Biomimetic Thin Films: Assembly and Applications Conclusion ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY (EIS) Basic Principles Polymer Films Stratified Films CHARACTERIZATION OF RESPONSIVE POLYMER BRUSHES AT SOLID7LIQUID INTERFACES BY ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY Introduction Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy - Basic Principles Electrochemistry as a Tool to Characterize Thin Polymer Films Probing the Responsive Properties of Polymer Brushes through EIS Measurements Molecular Transport within Polymer Brushes Studies by EIS Time-Resolved EIS Measurements on Responsive Polymer Brushes Concluding Remarks X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY OF ULTRATHIN ORGANIC FILMS Introduction Binding Energy Angle-Resolved XPS Photodegradation of Organic Films Conclusions PART IV: Applications SELF-ASSEMBLED MULTIFUNCTIONAL POLYMERS FOR BIOINTERFACES Introduction Immobilization and Conformation of Polymers at Biointerfaces Surface Strategies for Bio-Oriented Applications Summary and Outlook FABRICATION, PROPERTIES, AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF NANOSHEETS Introduction Nanosheets of Micrometer Size as Platelet Substitutes Giant Nanosheets as Nanoadhesive Plasters Surgical Applications of Nanoadhesive Plasters Nanosheets for the Next Generation Concluding Remarks HYBRID MULTILAYER FILMS CONTAINING NANO-OBJECTS Introduction Preparation Methods for Hybrid Multilayer Films Building-Block Materials for Hybrid Multilayer Films Conclusion LIGHT-DIRECTED SMART RESPONSES IN AZOBENZENE-CONTAINING LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Photoalignment of Molecular Aggregates (Nanoscale Regions) Block-Copolymer Microphase Separation (MPS) Structure (Mesoscale Region) Surface-Relief Formation (Microscale Regions) Summary THIN-FILM APPLICATIONS OF ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERS Introduction Applications Conclusions and Future Outlook HYBRID NANOMATERIALS IN ULTRATHIN FILMS: THE SOL-GEL METHOD AND PI-CONJUGATED POLYMERS Why Hybrid Nanomaterials and Thin Films? How to Fabricate Hybrid, Layered, Thin-Film Nanomaterials Hybrid Nanomaterials: More than Just "Clay" and "Plastic" Sol-Gel Chemistry for Nanostructuring Conducting Polymers for Nanostructuring Hybrid Inorganic-Oxide-Polymer Materials: The State-of-the-Art Summary

About the Author :
Wolfgang Knoll is scientific executive director of the newly founded Austrian Institute of Technology. Previously, he was one of the Directors at the MPI for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany. A biophysicist by training, he spent time at the IBM Almaden Research Center in California before his habilitation at the Technical University of Munich in 1986. From 1991 to 1999, he was Head of Laboratory for Exotic Nanomaterials hosted by the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) in Wako, Japan. In 1992, he was also appointed Consulting Professor at the Dept. of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University, California. He is the 2003 recipient of the Eugen and Inge Seibold Award of the German Science Foundation, receivedthe 2008 Exner Medal of the Austrian Trade Association and was elected in 2010 as a regular member to the Austrian Academy of Sciences. . His current research interests include in particular structure-property relationships of polymeric and other organic systems in thin films and at functionalized surfaces. Rigoberto Advincula is Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston, Texas. He obtained his chemistry degrees from the University of Florida (Ph.D.) and the University of the Philippines (B.S.). He has published some 380 papers, including 155 peer-reviewed publications, 11 patents (and pending), and has co-edited the book on Polymer Brushes (Wiley-VCH 2005). He currently serves as Editor of Reactive and Functional Polymers and is on the Editorial Boards of Chemistry of Materials, ACS-Applied Materials and Interfaces, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Macromolecular Research, Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, and Polymer for Advance Technologies journals. He is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS), and also a Fellow of both the Polymer Materials Science and Engineering (PMSE) and the Polymer Chemistry Divisions of the ACS.

Review :
“Engineering students would find this book a good companion guide for a class in electromagnetics.”  (IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, 1 May 2013) "A curious mind will always come out with a fresh new insight and an inspiration to learn, understand, and even invent. This book is dedicated to such an individual." (Current Engineering Practice, 2011)