Synthesis of polysilane–acrylamide copolymers by photopolymerization and their application to polysilane–silica hybrid thin films

Various polysilane–acrylamide block copolymers have been prepared from photopolymerization of acrylamide-type monomers using poly(methylphenylsilane) (PMPS) as a macro-photo-radical initiator. The acrylamide block in the copolymers improved the hydrophilic property of PMPS. These PMPS–acrylamide block copolymers have been applied to formation of PMPS–silica hybrid thin films via sol–gel reaction. Homogeneous and transparent PMPS–silica hybrid thin films were obtained from a few PMPS–acrylamide block copolymers. It was found for these hybrid thin films based on hydrogen bonding formation between amide group and silanol group. The surface properties of hybrid thin films were evaluated by water contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM) images.