Preparation of poly(9-Vinylcarbazole) thin films chemically tethered to ITO surface via self-assembled monolayer having benzophenone terminal group

With a goal of controlling the interface interaction between the indium-tin oxide (ITO) substrate and a polymer thin film, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) bearing benzophenone terminal group was formed on the ITO substrate. The SAM formation was achieved by dipping the ITO substrate into solutions of 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane and 4-aminobenzophenone, successively. A thin film of poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) was spin-coated on this surface and exposed to UV light to induce a photochemical reaction between the benzophenone terminal group of the SAM and the PVK. Surface characterization after removing the physisorbed PVK by an organic solvent revealed that PVK films prepared by this method are covalently bound to the ITO surface. The same process was achieved also on Si and WO _x surfaces.