Surface selective deposition of PMMA on layered double hydroxide nanocrystals immobilized on solid substrates

A precise control method to increase the density of grafting polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on hydroxyl-rich (LDH) surfaces by using self-assembled monolayers (SAM) to create a uniform initiator monolayers was presented. The orientation and area coverage of MgAl-LDH depending upon the applied substrates and solvents was also investigated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images show that the PMMA is polymerized faster on the MgAl-LDH particles than on the Si surface, which also reveals the introduction of regular nanostructures of PMMA. The requirement of TMSPMA as a molecular linker is confirmed by the IR spectra supporting the polymerization of PMMA on the TMSPMA/LDH/Si substrates. The UV-vis spectra for the PMMA-coated MgAl-LDH films show that the transmittance decreases in the wavelength range below 350nm, and that the films provide complete shielding to wavelengths below 300 nm.