Polymerization of a Thiol-Bound Styrene Monolayer

Abstract

The polymerization of a self-assembled monolayer of (mercaptomethyl)styrene is monitored in situ with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Chemisorption of this thiol-containing styrene involves the loss of the S−H bond. The vinyl stretching mode at 1625 cm -1, which disappears during both azo- and photoinitiated surface polymerization, is used to follow the kinetics of the process. Laser desorption/Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance/mass spectrometry confirms the transformation of the initiated monomer into a nondesorbable species.