Preparation of PEG-terminated polyurea thin films using vapor deposition polymerization

Antifouling coatings can address the significant challenges faced in water treatment, marine applications, and medical fields owing to the biofouling from proteins, bacteria, and marine organisms. The use of insoluble and non-melting polymers is necessary to improve the physical and chemical durability of antifouling coatings. However, the conventional wet processes for applying these coatings present significant challenges. In this study, we prepared thin films with improved antifouling properties and chemical durability using vapor deposition polymerization. After the co-deposition of isocyanate and amine monomers to form a polyurea film, polyethylene glycol (PEG), with a molecular weight of 600, was deposited to form a PEG-terminated polyurea film. The coverage of PEG was ∼80%, and the amount of protein adsorbed was reduced to ∼30% compared to that on unmodified polyurea. The polymerized polyurea thin films and PEG chemically bonded to polyurea exhibited high chemical resistance.