Characterization of polymer surfaces and interfaces using surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Interdiffusion of layers of polystyrene (PS) and deuterated polystyrene (DPS) was investigated using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). When SERS spectra were obtained, a band characteristic of the PS films adjacent to the silver surface was observed near 1015 cm;Adsorption of polystyrene/poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS/P2VP) diblock copolymers having long PS blocks and short P2VP blocks onto silver island films from toluene solutions was investigated using SERS. When adsorption was carried out from solutions having concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the SERS spectra were a strong function of the adsorption time.;When the adsorption was carried out at solution concentrations below the CMC, the SERS spectra were similar to the normal Raman spectra of the copolymer and only bands characteristic of the PS blocks were observed regardless of the adsorption time.;SERS was used to investigate surface segregation in blends of PS and DPS following annealing at temperatures above the upper critical solution temperature (UCST). The relative intensities of bands near 1015 and 975 cm;Segregation in blends of PS and DPS at the silver surface was investigated using SERS. Before annealing, the composition of PS and DPS at the silver surface was similar to that in the bulk. However, after annealing PS segregated to the silver surface and the extent of segregation was related to the annealing time and the film thickness of the blends. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).