Controlling surface morphologies of self-assembled films through adjusting amphiphilic balance of hyperbranched poly(ester-amine)s in water by solution pH

Butyl acrylate was used as reaction terminator to control the molecular structure of hyperbranched poly(ester-amine)s (HPEA) synthesized from piperazine and trimethylolpropanetriacrylate (TMPTA). Self-assembled films were formed from HPEA as polycation and poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) as polyanion by layer-by-layer (LBL) dipping. The influence of solution pH of HPEA on aggregation behaviors of the molecules in solution, self-assembling performances, surface morphologies and hydrophility of the films were investigated. The surface morphologies could be controlled by the amphiphilic balance of HPEA in water, which was regulated by the pH.