Polymeric self-assembled monolayers derived from surface-active copolymers: a modular approach to functionalized surfaces

Physical or covalent adsorption of surface-active block or random copolymers consisting of anchoring units and functional units onto solid surfaces yields polymeric self-assembled monolayers (PSAMs) with designed chemical and morphological structures and functionalities. This tutorial review provides an overview of PSAMs derived from various types of copolymers. It also discusses design principles for PSAMs to tune interfacial and surface interactions of materials for potential applications. Various copolymers consisting of different types of surface-active and functional parts are grafted to solid surfaces to offer unique functionalities via the formation of polymeric self-assembled monolayers (PSAMs).