Well-defined polymer-germanium hybrids via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization on hydrogen-terminated Ge(100) substrates

Abstract

UV-induced hydrogermylation of 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) on the hydrogen-terminated Ge(100) (Ge-H) surface provided a stable Ge-C bonded initiator monolayer (the Ge-VBC surface) for the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Well-defined polymer-Ge hybrids, consisting of covalently tethered functional polymer brushes, were prepared via surface-initiated ATRP from the Ge-VBC surfaces. Surface-initiated block copolymerization studies revealed that the chain growth from the functionalized germanium surface was a controlled process. © 2005 American Chemical Society.