Environmentally friendly repeatable adhesion using a sulfobetaine-type polyzwitterion brush

A repeatable adhesion system is demonstrated using a zwitterionic poly[3-(N-2-methacryloyloxyethyl-N,N-dimethyl)ammonato propane sulfonate] (poly(MAPS)) brush. Two silicon wafers bearing poly(MAPS) brushes were joined in hot water at 333 K under 0.098 MPa of pressure for 1 min and dried under an air atmosphere for 3 h. A lap shear strength of 2.0 MPa was observed through the adhesion of the brush substrates due to attractive dipole–dipole interactions between the sulfobetaine units. Smooth debonding of the adhering substrates in hot water at 333 K was completed within 1 h due to swelling of the poly(MAPS) brushes above the upper critical solution temperature. Repeatable adhesion and debonding was successfully achieved by the poly(MAPS) brush on the substrate.