Cu⁰-mediated surface-initiated ATRP (Cu⁰ SI-ATRP) emerges as a versatile, oxygen-tolerant process to functionalize three-dimensional (3D), microporous supports forming single and multiple polymer-brush gradients with a fully tunable composition. When polymerization mixtures are dispensed on a Cu⁰-coated plate, this acts as oxygen scavenger and source of active catalyst. In the presence of an ATRP initiator-bearing microporous elastomer placed in contact with the metallic plate, the reaction solution infiltrates by capillarity through the support, simultaneously triggering the controlled growth of polymer brushes. The polymer grafting process proceeds with kinetics that are determined by the progressive infiltration of the reaction solution within the microporous support and by the continuous diffusion of catalyst regenerated at the Cu⁰ surface. The combination of these effects enables the accessible generation of 3D polymer-brush gradients extending across the microporous scaffolds used as supports, finally providing materials with a continuous variation of interfacial composition and properties.

中文翻译：

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通过 Cu0 介导的表面引发 ATRP 在弹性体支撑内制造三维聚合物刷梯度

Cu ⁰介导的表面引发 ATRP (Cu ⁰ SI-ATRP) 是一种通用的耐氧工艺，用于功能化三维 (3D) 微孔载体，形成具有完全可调成分的单个和多个聚合物刷梯度。当聚合混合物分配在 Cu ⁰- 涂层板，作为除氧剂和活性催化剂来源。在存在与金属板接触的带有 ATRP 引发剂的微孔弹性体的情况下，反应溶液通过毛细作用渗透通过载体，同时触发聚合物刷的受控生长。聚合物接枝过程以动力学进行，该动力学由反应溶液在微孔载体内的逐渐渗透和由在Cu ⁰表面再生的催化剂的连续扩散决定。这些效应的结合使得能够生成跨越用作支撑的微孔支架的 3D 聚合物刷梯度，最终为材料提供界面组成和性能的连续变化。