Contents -- Preface -- Contributing authors -- 1 Introductory remarks on polymers and polymer surfaces -- 1.1 Why polymers? -- 1.1.1 Generality -- 1.1.2 Synthesis -- 1.1.3 Classification and nomenclature -- 1.1.4 Morphology and properties -- 1.2 Why to investigate a polymer surface? -- 1.2.1 Nature and dynamics of polymer surfaces -- 1.2.1.1 Vibrational dynamics of macromolecules -- 1.2.1.2 Changes in thermodynamic properties on the surface -- 1.2.1.3 Rotation of functional groups on polymer backbones in response to different environmental conditions -- 1.2.1.4 Surface interdiffusion or segregation of copolymers or polymer blends -- 1.2.2 Surface modification of polymers -- 1.2.2.1 Improvement of wettability -- 1.2.2.2 Improvement of porosity or roughening -- 1.2.2.3 Improvement of adhesion -- 1.2.2.4 Interaction of polymer with biological environment: Biocompatibility -- 1.2.2.5 Improvement of conductivity -- 1.2.3 Possibility of predicting polymer performances by surface characterization techniques -- References -- 2 Investigation of polymer surfaces by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1.1 Analysis of surfaces -- 2.1.2 The SIMS process: A detailed approach of theory and instruments -- 2.1.2.1 Sputter process and SSIMS approach -- 2.1.2.2 Mass analyzer systems -- 2.1.2.3 Ion sources and primary ions -- 2.1.2.4 Surface ionization ion guns -- 2.1.2.5 Duoplasmatron and gas ion sources -- 2.1.2.6 Liquid metal ion guns -- 2.1.2.7 Gas cluster ion sources -- 2.1.2.8 High-resolution ion images obtained from cluster LMIG sources -- 2.2 TOF-SIMS investigations of polymer materials -- 2.2.1 General remarks -- 2.2.2 Polymers -- 2.2.2.1 Polydimethylsiloxane -- 2.2.2.2 Polystyrene -- 2.2.2.3 Polyacrylates -- 2.2.2.4 Fluorinated polymers -- 2.2.2.5 Poly(ethyleneterephthalate).

2.2.2.6 Polyethylene glycol -- 2.2.2.7 Spectra libraries and G-SIMS approach -- 2.2.2.8 Multivariate analysis and principal component analysis -- 2.2.3 Polymer additives -- 2.2.4 Copolymers -- 2.2.5 Multicomponent polymers (polymer blends) -- 2.2.6 Plasma modification and deposition -- 2.2.7 Other applications -- References -- 3 Polymer surface chemistry: Characterization by XPS -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Photoelectron spectroscopy: A brief historyª -- 3.2.1 Basic principles -- 3.2.2 Spectroscopic and X-ray notations -- 3.3 Instrumentation -- 3.3.1 Vacuum system -- 3.3.2 X-ray sources -- 3.3.2.1 Dual Mg/Al anode X-ray tube -- 3.3.2.2 Monochromatic source -- 3.3.2.3 Synchrotron radiation source -- 3.3.3 Energy analyzers -- 3.3.4 Detectors -- 3.3.5 Charge compensation -- 3.3.6 Small-area XPS: imaging and mapping -- 3.3.7 Ambient-pressure photoelectron spectroscopy -- 3.4 Chemical information from XPS -- 3.5 Chemical shift and its significance in the analysis of polymers -- 3.6 Chemical derivatization techniques in conjunction with XPS -- 3.7 Polymers surface segregation -- 3.8 Polymers physical treatments/grafting -- 3.9 Polymers aging -- References -- 4 Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: A powerful tool for investigating polymer surfaces and interfaces -- 4.1 Principles of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy -- 4.2 Theory of attenuated total reflection FTIR spectroscopy -- 4.2.1 Propagation of IR radiation through a planar interface between two isotropic media -- 4.2.2 Propagation of IR radiation through stratified media -- 4.2.3 Penetration depth and effective thickness -- 4.2.3.1 Penetration depth in ATR/FTIR spectroscopic analysis of polymers -- 4.2.4 Transmission FTIR vs ATR/FTIR spectroscopy -- 4.3 Experimental methods in ATR/FTIR spectroscopy.

4.3.1 Internal reflection elements -- 4.3.2 Internal reflection attachments -- 4.3.3 Metal underlayer ATR/FTIR spectroscopy -- 4.3.3.1 Effect of metal underlayer on penetration depth in ATR/FTIR spectroscopic analysis of polymers -- 4.4 Potentials and limitations of ATR/FTIR spectroscopy -- 4.5 Applications of ATR/FTIR spectroscopy -- 4.5.1 ATR/FTIR spectroscopy in polymer science -- 4.5.2 In situ ATR/FTIR spectroscopy of tribochemical phenomena -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 5 Scanning probe microscopy of polymers -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Sample preparation -- 5.3 Phase imaging -- 5.3.1 Background on phase imaging -- 5.3.2 Applications of phase imaging to polymer materials -- 5.4 Multifrequency imaging -- 5.5 Nanorheological mapping -- 5.6 Thermal/spectroscopic measurements -- 5.7 Environmental measurements -- 5.8 Conclusions -- References -- 6 Polymer surface morphology: Characterization by electron microscopies -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Scanning electron microscopy -- 6.2.1 SEM: Principles -- 6.2.1.1 Microscope and image formation -- 6.2.1.2 Interaction of the electron beam with the specimen -- 6.2.2 SEM: Classical modes -- 6.2.2.1 SE imaging -- 6.2.2.2 BSE imaging -- 6.2.2.3 EDX spectra -- 6.2.2.4 STEM imaging -- 6.2.3 SEM: Modern trends -- 6.2.3.1 Variable-pressure SEM -- 6.2.3.2 Variable-temperature SEM -- 6.2.3.3 Low-voltage SEM -- 6.2.3.4 Multidimensional SEM -- 6.2.4 SEM: Further possibilities -- 6.2.4.1 Spectroscopic methods -- 6.2.4.2 Methods connected with crystal structure of samples -- 6.2.4.3 Methods using sample-specific interactions with electron beam -- 6.3 Transmission electron microscopy -- 6.4 Sample preparation -- 6.4.1 Overview of polymer materials -- 6.4.2 Specific features of polymer materials -- 6.4.2.1 Charging and electron-beam damage -- 6.4.2.2 Skin-core effect.

6.4.2.3 Low contrast between components -- 6.4.3 Preparation techniques for polymer materials -- 6.4.3.1 Direct observation of polymer surface -- 6.4.3.2 Fracturing -- 6.4.3.3 Etching -- 6.4.3.4 Cutting and staining -- 6.4.3.5 Special techniques -- 6.5 Applications -- 6.5.1 Homopolymers -- 6.5.2 Copolymers -- 6.5.3 Polymer blends -- 6.5.4 Polymer composites -- 6.5.5 Special applications -- 6.5.5.1 Low-voltage SEM in polymer science -- 6.5.5.2 Wet specimens in polymer science -- 6.5.5.3 Further applications -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 7 Wettability: Significance and measurement -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 CA and surface energy -- 7.2.1 Surface energy evaluation -- 7.2.1.1 Critical surface energy method -- 7.2.1.2 Multicomponent approaches -- 7.2.1.3 Particular cases: High-energy surfaces and granular materials -- 7.2.2 Considerations on surface energy evaluation -- 7.3 CA hysteresis -- 7.4 Measurement methods for CA -- 7.4.1 Direct measurement by optical goniometry -- 7.4.2 Force tensiometry -- 7.4.3 Approach comparison -- 7.5 Application of CA measurement -- 7.5.1 From hydrophobic to water- and oil-repellent materials -- 7.5.2 Hydrophilic to super-hydrophilic materials -- 7.5.3 Hydrophobic recovery of hydrophilic surfaces -- 7.5.4 CA on porous surfaces -- 7.5.5 Acid-base characterization of polymeric surfaces -- References -- 8 Advances of spectroscopic ellipsometry in the analysis of thin polymer films-polymer interfaces -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.1.1 Basics of ellipsometry -- 8.2 New ellipsometric methods, techniques, and aspects -- 8.2.1 Optical dispersion -- 8.2.2 In situ setups -- 8.2.2.1 Liquid cells for measurements in solution -- 8.2.2.2 Coupling ellipsometry with quartz crystal microbalance -- 8.2.2.3 Total internal reflection ellipsometry -- 8.2.3 In-line monitoring.

8.2.3.1 Monitoring processes in a vacuum chamber -- 8.2.3.2 R2R fabrication processes -- 8.2.4 Micropatterned films -- 8.2.4.1 VIS imaging ellipsometry -- 8.2.4.2 Microfocus-mapping IR ellipsometry -- 8.3 Selected architectures of polymer films, blends, and composites -- 8.3.1 Polymer blends and cross-linked polymer films -- 8.3.2 Tg in thin polymer films of different architectures: Confinement effects -- 8.3.3 Polymer-NP composites -- 8.3.4 Polymers in nanostructured surfaces -- 8.4 Polymer layers absorbing in the VIS spectral range -- 8.4.1 Chemical modification with dye molecules -- 8.4.2 Semiconducting polymers and blends for OPV and OLED -- 8.5 Swelling and adsorption processes: Proteins and stimuli-responsive polymers -- 8.5.1 Swelling of stimuli-responsive polymer layers -- 8.5.2 Protein adsorption at soft polymer surfaces -- References -- Index.