Regeneration of functional surfaces after damage or contamination could extend the life time of devices. Such regeneration can be achieved by layer shedding (like a lizard shedding its skin). In this work, triggered self-regeneration of functional surfaces by an external stimulus is presented. Polymer multilayer stacks are assembled alternatingly from discrete 20–300 nm thick functional layers and depolymerizable interlayers, which are used as sacrificial layers. The sacrificial layers are depolymerizable poly(benzyl carbamates) end-capped with 4-hydroxy-2-butanone. Their depolymerization is triggered by alkaline pH, at which the end-cap is cleaved. This initiates a 1,6-elimination cascade of the polymer backbone, during which CO₂ is released. Thus, the layer shedding is driven synergistically by mass transport and buoyancy forces. Proof-of-concept is achieved using poly(styrene) as a model functional layer, and also studied for hydrophilic, antimicrobially active poly(oxanorbornene) layers. The multilayer assembly and disassembly process is monitored by ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), optical microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. FTIR spectra taken after degradation are confirmed the regeneration of the surface functionality.

中文翻译：

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使用刺激响应聚（氨基甲酸乙酯）通过触发层脱落自再生功能聚合物表面

损坏或污染后功能表面的再生可以延长设备的使用寿命。这种再生可以通过层脱落来实现（就像蜥蜴蜕皮一样）。在这项工作中，提出了通过外部刺激触发功能表面的自我再生。聚合物多层堆叠由离散的 20-300 nm 厚的功能层和可解聚的中间层交替组装，用作牺牲层。牺牲层是用 4-羟基-2-丁酮封端的可解聚聚（氨基甲酸苄酯）。它们的解聚由碱性 pH 触发，在该 pH 值下端帽被裂解。这引发了聚合物主链的 1,6-消除级联反应，在此期间 CO ₂被释放。因此，层脱落是由质量传输和浮力协同驱动的。使用聚（苯乙烯）作为模型功能层实现了概念验证，并且还研究了亲水性、抗菌活性聚（氧杂降冰片烯）层。多层组装和拆卸过程由椭偏仪、傅里叶变换红外光谱 (FTIR)、光学显微镜和原子力显微镜监测。降解后获得的 FTIR 光谱证实了表面功能的再生。