Surface modification of poly(vinylidene difluoride)(PVDF) by LiOH

Abstract

Treatment of poly(vinylidene difluoride), PVDF, with aqueous lithium hydroxide solution results in defluorination and oxidation at the polymer surface, whereas all previously reported wet methods for surface modification of fluoropolymers have to be executed under a dry nitrogen atmosphere, this process can be performed in the open laboratory; the chemistry occurring at the solid–liquid interface has been isolated and investigated in detail by XPS.