Recent developments in multivariant surface-tethered polymer assemblies

Surface-tethered polymer brushes prepared via surface-initiated controlled/``living'' radical polymerization represent an effective tool for tuning the physico-chemical properties of surfaces. We have recently developed methods leading to assemblies of surface-tethered polymers with continuously varying grafting density, molecular weight, and composition. In this presentation, we will demonstrate how these assembling concepts can be utilized to: 1) study the kinetics of surface-initiated controlled/``living'' radical polymerization, 2) systematically study the phase behavior of diblock and triblock copolymers upon exposure to selective solvents, 3) study the behavior of block copolymer polyampholyte brushes, and 4) explore the wettability transitions (superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic) using thermoresponsive polymer brushes on topologically corrugated substrates.