Electrokinetic Potential for Characterization of Nanosctructured Solid Flat Surfaces

Abstract

Electrokinetic potential (zeta potential) is a characteristic parameter for description of the surface chemistry of solid flat materials and it can be used for a fast analysis of materials modified by different chemical or physical methods. Due to its sensitivity, zeta potential is able to distinguish surface modified by coating with monolayers of various materials or nanostructures created after plasma treatment. Also metal nanostructures deposited on surfaces can be characterized by zeta potential. It can also be used for isoelectric point determination of materials. We present data on zeta potential in 0.001 mol/dm3 KCl at constant pH7.0 and also in pH range (2.5-7.0) for isoelectric point determination for pristine polymers PET, PTFE, PS, LDPE, HDPE, PLLA, PVF, PVDF, PMP and polyimides (Upilex R, Upilex S, Kapton). The zeta potential of selected polymers, modified by plasma and by chemical coatings (e.g. by biphenyldithiol or polyethyleneglycol) or by gold deposition was measured too. Zeta potentials of these modified materials were also studied to confirmation that electrokinetic analysis is acceptable method for their fast description.