Enhanced Glass Transition Temperature of Thin Polystyrene Films Having an Underneath Cross-Linked Layer

Due to the importance of the interface in the segmental dynamics of supported macromolecule ultrathin films, the glass transition temperature (T-g) of polystyrene (PS) ultrathin films upon solid substrates modified with a cross-linked PS (CLPS) layer has been investigated. The results showed that the T-g of the thin PS films on a silica surface with a similar to 5 nm cross-linked layer increased with reducing film thickness. Meanwhile, the increase in T-g of the thin PS films became more pronounced with increasing the cross-linking density of the layer. For example, a 20 nm thick PS film supported on CLPS with 1.8 kDa of cross-linking degree exhibited a similar to 35 and similar to 50 K increase in T-g compared to its bulk and that on neat SiO2 substrate, respectively. Such a large T-g elevation for the ultrathin PS films was attributed to the interfacial aggregation states in which chains diffused through nanolevel voids formed in the cross-linked layer to the SiO2-Si surface. In such a situation, the chains were topologically constrained in the cross-linked layer with less mobility. These results offer us the opportunity to tailor interfacial effects by changing the degree of cross-linking, which has great potential application in many polymer nanocomposites.

Automated summary

This study investigated the influence of interfacial effects on the glass transition temperature of polymer ultrathin films modified with a cross-linked layer. The results showed that the glass transition temperature increased with decreasing film thickness and higher cross-linking density. The chains diffused through nanolevel voids in the cross-linked layer, leading to topological constraints and reduced mobility. This research provides an opportunity to tailor interfacial effects for potential applications in polymer nanocomposites.