Controlled Vapor Deposition Approach to Generating Surface Energy/Chemistry Gradients

Published

June 9, 2011

Author(s)

Julie N. Albert, Joey D. Kim, Christopher Stafford, Thomas H. Epps

Abstract

Substrate surface energy/chemistry gradients provide a means for high-throughput exploration of the surface interactions that are important for many chemical and biological processes. We describe the implementation of a controlled vapor deposition approach to surface modification that enables the facile production of substrate surface energy/chemistry gradients while maintaining versatility in both the gradient profile and surface chemistry. Gradient formation relies on cross-deposition of functionalized chlorosilanes onto the substrate surface via vaporization of the deposition materials from liquid reservoirs under dynamic vacuum. The effects of liquid reservoir size, reservoir position relative to the substrate, vacuum application, and volatility of deposition materials are examined in detail and demonstrate the level of gradient tunability afforded by this vapor deposition approach.

Citation

Review of Scientific Instruments

Volume

82

Issue

6

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

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Keywords

gradient, surface energy, chlorosilanes, vapor phase, surface modfication

Citation

Albert, J. , Kim, J. , Stafford, C. and Epps, T. (2011), Controlled Vapor Deposition Approach to Generating Surface Energy/Chemistry Gradients, Review of Scientific Instruments, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908189 (Accessed October 18, 2025)