Poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) mono-azide and di-azide as platforms for surface post-functionalization

• Poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) with mono-azide and di-azide groups.
• Platform surfaces for click reactions.
• Influence of the number of substituents on surface morphology and hydrophobicity.

Here, we report for the first time the use of poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) as tunable platform for surface post-functionalization. In this work, we report the synthesis and polymerization of 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene monomer bearing one or two azido groups. The available position for modification per monomer will impact the post-functionalization and as a consequence the surface final properties. The formed surfaces were post-functionalized using various alkyl chains. The post-functionalized surfaces were then studied for their surface morphologies and wettabilities. This work allows to link the surface final properties to the number of function available for post-functionalization. Here, we show that the hydrophobic properties increase more with two functional groups with a change from hydrophobic to parahydrophobic and even superhydrophobic properties.

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