Fabrication of a Stable Layer-by-Layer Thin Film Based on Diazoresin and Phenolic Hydroxy-Containing Polymers via H-Bonding

Using the self assembly technique, a stable multilayer films was successfully fabricated from diazoresin (DR) and poly(styrene-co-(N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)maleimide)) (P(S-co-HPMI)) followed by UV irradiation. The driving force of the self-assembly was confirmed to be H-bonding attraction between the diazonium group (—N2+) of DR and the phenolic hydroxy group (—Ph—OH) of P(S-co-HPMI). A linkage conversion from H-bond to covalent bond takes place after decomposition of the —N2+ group using UV irradiation. As a result, the stability of the film towards polar solvents increases dramatically.