Production and preliminary characterization of DC plasma polymerized allylamine film (PPAA) by NRA, ERD and XPS

S. Lucas a, G. Genard a, C. Michiels b, B. Masereel c, O. Feron d, B. Gallez e, T. Vander Borght f, N. Moreau a,*

a Centre de Recherche en physique de la Matie`re et du Rayonnement (LARN), University of Namur – FUNDP – 61, Rue de Bruxelles, B-5000
Namur, Belgium
b Unite´ de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire, University of Namur – FUNDP – 61, Rue de Bruxelles, B-5000 Namur, Belgium
c Drug Design and Discovery Center, University of Namur – FUNDP – 61, Rue de Bruxelles, B-5000 Namur, Belgium
d Unite´ de Pharmacothe´rapie (FATH), Universite´ Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Avenue Mounier, 52, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
e Laboratoire de Re´sonance Magne´tique Biome´dicale (CMFA), Universite´ Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Avenue Mounier, 73,
B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
f Unite´ d’imagerie mole´culaire et radiothe´rapie expe´rimentale (IMRE), Universite´ Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Rue Dr. G. Therasse, 1,
B-5530 Yvoir, Belgium
Available online 15 March 2008


Abstract
Due to its surface properties, especially the presence of amine groups, plasma polymerized allylamine (PPAA) is involved in a large
range of applications. Most of them are related to biology and biochemistry. In this work, we demonstrate a quick and simple way to
produce PPAA thin films by conventional DC magnetron sputtering. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first method not involving
radiofrequency (RF) or microwave discharges. In this paper, we show preliminary characterizations on the produced films (bulk analysis)
carried out by ion beam techniques. The Hydrogen content in the whole layers was measured by ERD. The surface composition was
probed by XPS on pentafluorobenzaldehyde (PFBA) derivatized films: the maximum concentration of amine groups is 1.6%.
 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PACS: 52.77.Dq; 82.80.Yc; 82.80.Pv; 25.55.Ci
Keywords: PVD; Plasma; Polymerization; Allylamine; IBA; XPS