Electrodeposition of Amino-Functionalized Particles in a pH Gradient: Quantitative Investigations Employing an Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance

The electrodeposition of amino-functionalized polystyrene and polybutylacrylate particles onto a gold electrode was investigated by an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and by AFM imaging. Particles with diameters in the range of 100 nm were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization. An electrochemical pH modulation in front of the electrode induced the neutralization of the amino groups and the particles readily precipitated onto the surface. The efficiency of the deposition was a function of the applied voltage, of the particles' softness, and of the amino content of the particles. Depending on the polymer composition, the coatings consisted of a dense array of individual miniemulsion particles or of a smooth polymer surface produced by coalescence.