Electrografting of acrylate monomer, versatile method for coatings and thin films technologies

Among the high research activity in the area of surface modification, electrografting is a very powerful and effective technique. When conducted under appropriate conditions of solvent and cathodic potential, the electropolymerization of (meth)acrylic monomers results in the chemisorption of the polymer on the conducting surface. This one-step electrografting technique is very easily implemented, can be applied to a wide range of (semi)-conducting surfaces by keeping the same chemistry and requires commonly used, readily available (meth)acrylate monomers. The wide variety of acrylic monomers suitable for this process makes available a broad range of surface properties including bactericidal, superhydrophobic and proteins repellent coatings. Electrografted smart coatings able to respond to external stimuli are also of interest particularly for sensors and actuators.