Colloidal Aqueous Dispersions of Methyl (meth)Acrylate-Grafted Polyvinyl Alcohol Designed for Thin Film Applications

In this paper, the aqueous copolymer dispersions of methyl (meth)acrylate-grafted poly(vinyl alcohol) are in situ synthesized and studied as a promising platform for the deposition of thin films with advanced applications. A series of dispersions of the varied copolymer structure and composition are obtained at mild reaction conditions by carrying out a redox polymerization at a different monomer-to-PVA ratio and initiator concentration. The obtained colloidal particles are characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The copolymer dispersions are further used for deposition of thin films on silicon substrates. The films are characterized optically through reflectance measurements and non-linear curve fitting. Their suitability for the optical sensing of acetone vapors is confirmed by reflectance measurements before and during their exposure to analyte vapors. The cross sensitivity, sensing repeatability, and recovery of the sensitive films are discussed.