Switchable Surface Wettability by Using Boronic Ester Chemistry.
Here, we report for the first time the use of a boronic ester as an efficient tool for reversible surface post functionalization. The boronic ester bond allows surfaces to be reversibly switched from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. Based on the well known boronic acid/glycol affinity, this strategy offers the opportunity to play with surface hydrophobic properties by adding various boronic acids onto substrates bearing glycol groups. The post functionalization can then be reversed to regenerate the starting glycol surface. This pathway allows for the preparation of various switchable surfaces for a large range of applications in biosensors, liquid transportation, and separation membranes.
Chemphyschem a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry