Achieving Ultralow Fouling under Ambient Conditions via Surface-Initiated ARGET ATRP of Carboxybetaine

Abstract

We achieved ultralow fouling on target surfaces by controlled polymerization of carboxybetaine under ambient conditions. The polymerization process for grafting polymer films onto the surfaces was carried out in air and did not require any deoxygenation step or specialized equipment. This method allows one to conveniently introduce a nonfouling polymer network onto large substrates.