Effective control of surface property on poly(silsesquioxane) films by chemical modification

We report the strategy of controlling the surface properties of polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) films by a silane-coupling agent. The surface properties of chemically modified PMSQ films are investigated by the water contact angle and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements. The FTIR spectra show the distinct change of the silanol peaks before and after octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) treatments of PMSQ films. The OTS-modified PMSQ films exhibit a high water contact angle of 100°, which is much higher than that of non-treated PMSQ films (89°). The electrical performances of organic thin-film transistors are enhanced by the surface modification of PMSQ films using OTS as the silane-coupling agent.