Metal, metal oxide, and plastic surfaces were modified with poly(vinylpyridine) using adsorption, spin-coating, and dip-coating techniques and various metal, semiconductor, and dielectric nanoparticles were subsequently attached. Prior to the modification, the substrates were treated with glow discharge plasma for cleaning purposes and to introduce surface functional groups that are capable of interaction with the polymer. UV−vis absorption spectroscopy, atomic force, and electron scanning microscopies were used to characterize polymer layers and layers of immobilized nanoparticles. The surface modification with poly(vinylpyridine) via adsorption technique is suggested as a simple, effective, and highly versatile method for the preparation of single, mixed, and multilayered assemblies of various nanoparticles on different substrates.

Dense, homogeneous, and complete self-assembled monolayers with epoxy surface groups were fabricated from epoxysilanes to serve as a template for chemical anchoring of ultrathin polymer layers. We formed epoxysilane layers on silicon oxide surfaces of silicon wafers, and a combination of scanning probe microscopy, ellipsometry, XPS, and contact angle measurements was used to study their morphology and surface properties. A low concentration of epoxysilane (less than 0.5 vol %) led to significant aggregate formation caused by a prevailing hydrolization/polymerization of epoxysilane molecules in bulk solution. Epoxysilane SAMs prepared from 1% solution were truly monomolecular films with a virtually normal molecular orientation of densely packed molecules, which were firmly attached to the substrate. Self-assembly deposition of epoxysilanes at optimal conditions resulted in the formation of homogeneous SAMs 0.85 ± 0.2 nm thick with the surface roughness 0.22 ± 0.05 nm.