Green Nanocoatings Prepared by Crosslinking Self-Assembled Fatty Acids on Metals

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are an important element of modern nanotechnology and surface functionalization. However, their application is still limited because they are easily removed from the surface of the object in corrosive environments. Crosslinking would make SAMs more resistant to the corrosive environment they are exposed to. In this work, how to strongly crosslink SAMs made of non-toxic and biodegradable fatty acids on metal surfaces using ionizing radiation has been demonstrated for the first time. The crosslinked nanocoatings are stable over time and have significantly improved properties compared to SAMs. Thus, crosslinking opens up the possibility of using SAMS in a variety of different systems and on different materials for surface functionalization to achieve stable and durable surface properties such as biocompatibility or selective reactivity.

Automated summary

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are an important element of modern nanotechnology and surface functionalization. However, their application is limited due to their vulnerability in corrosive environments. This study demonstrates for the first time how to strongly crosslink SAMs made of non-toxic and biodegradable fatty acids on metal surfaces using ionizing radiation, resulting in stable crosslinked nanocoatings with significantly improved properties compared to SAMs. Crosslinking opens up the possibility of using SAMs in various systems and on different materials for achieving stable and durable surface properties.