General Method for Forming Micrometer-Scale Lateral Chemical Gradients in Polymer Brushes

We report a general diffusion based method to form micrometer-scale lateral chemical gradients in polymer brushes via selective alkylation. A quaternized brush gradient is derived from a concentration gradient of alkylating agent formed by diffusion in permeable media around a microchannel carrying the alkylating agent. Polymer brushes containing both charge and aromatic gradients are formed using the alkylating agents, methyl iodide and benzyl bromide, respectively. The gradients are quantitatively characterized by confocal Raman spectroscopy and qualitatively by fluorescence microscopy. The length and gradient strength can be controlled by varying the diffusion time, concentrations, and solvents of the alkylating agent solutions. This microfluidic brush gradient generation method enables formation of 2-D chemical potential gradients with a diversity of shapes.