The kinetic roughening of polymer films grown by vapor deposition polymerization was analyzed using the widely accepted classification framework of \"generic scaling ansatz\" given for the structure factor. Over the past two decades, this method has played a pivotal role in classifying diverse forms of dynamic scaling and understanding the mechanisms driving interface roughening. The roughness exponents of the polymer films were consistently determined as α=1.25±0.09, αloc=0.73±0.02, and αs=0.99±0.06. However, the inability to unambiguously assign these roughness exponent values to a specific scaling subclass prompts the proposal of a practical alternative. This report illustrates how all potential dynamic scaling can be consistently identified and classified based on the relationship between two temporal scaling exponents measured in real space: the average local slope and the global slope of the interface. The intrinsic anomalous roughening class is conclusively assigned to polymer film growth characterized by anomalous \"native (background slope-removed) local height fluctuations\". Moreover, the new analysis reveals that interfaces exhibiting anomalous scaling, previously classified as intrinsic anomalous roughening, could potentially belong to the super-rough class, particularly when the spectral roughness exponent αs is equal to 1.

In this study, an electrochemical chemosensor that utilizes a conductive polymer-based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) surface for rapid and reliable determination of CA125 was devised. A novel method has been applied to fabricate CA125 imprinted polypyrrole nanotubes (MI-PPy NT) via vapor deposition polymerization (VDP) as a recognition element for highly selective and sensitive determination of CA125. The chemosensor was prepared by immobilizing MI-PPy NT onto screen-printed gold electrodes (Au-SPE) and the performance of the sensor was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, linear dynamic concentration range (LDR) and limit of detection (LOD). The MI-PPy NT@Au-SPE sensor exhibited high sensitivity (68.57 μA per decade) to the CA125 concentration ranging from 0.1 U mL-1 to 100 U mL-1 at an LOD of 0.4 U mL-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9922. The developed chemosensors with their novel design combined with a facile fabrication method, prove to be promising as future state-of-the-art biosensors.

Solar-to-steam generation is a powerful, intense, and efficient method to harvest solar energy. Many efforts have been devoted to the development of a durable, affordable, and easy-to-manufacture solar steam device. In this study, we use a versatile polydimethylsiloxane material to fabricate an open porous black membrane with different pore structures using a simple salt water etching process and vapor deposition polymerization of pyrrole into a matrix. The porous black membrane absorbed radiation from a broad section of the light spectrum from near-infrared to ultraviolet and retained its initial pore structures and floating ability. We found that our black membrane with a tailored pore structure and surface exhibits excellent solar-to-steam generation efficiency of up to 72% at five sun irradiation. Also, a series of analyses including density functional theory calculation was used to prove the outstanding efficiency of solar-to-steam generation.

Cortisol is an hormone that regulates blood pressure, glucose levels and carbohydrate metabolism in humans. Abnormal secretion of cortisol can cause various symptoms closely linked to psychological and physical health. In this study, high-performance field-effect transistor (FET)-based biosensors for cortisol detection were fabricated from N-doped multidimensional carbon nanofibers. Nanofiber morphology was controlled by tailoring the pressure conditions during vapor deposition polymerization (VDP). Thereafter, conductive channels of FET were completed by thermal annealing, acid treatment, and antibody attachment. Changes associated with chemical processes were characterized by various instruments. The resulting transducers exhibited a rapid response toward cortisol molecules with accurate selectivity, stable reusability, and high sensitivity. Minimum detection level were as low as 100 aM with a wide linear detection range of 100 aM to 10 nM due to the large surface area of the transducer and a correspondingly high number of antibody labels. The response and applicability of these cortisol biosensors were also assessed using saliva as a test matrix.

In recent years much work has been conducted in order to create patterned and structured polymer coatings using vapor deposition techniques - not only via post-deposition treatment, but also directly during the deposition process. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures can be achieved via various vapor deposition strategies, for instance, using masks, exploiting surface properties that lead to spatially selective deposition, via the use of additional porogens or by employing oblique angle polymerization deposition. Here, we provide a concise review of these studies.

Thin pDMAEMA shells were formed on the surface of silica nanoparticles via vapor deposition polymerization. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analysis have been used to characterize the resulting pDMAEMA-coated silica nanoparticles. Electron microscopy studies reveal that the thin polymer shell is formed on the silica surface. In this work, the particle diameter can be controlled (from ~19 to ~69 nm) by varying the size of silica core. The antibacterial performance of the core-shell nanoparticles was investigated against both Gram-positive (Escherichia coli) and Gram-negative (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Importantly, the nano-sized pDMAEMA particles presented antibacterial activity against both bacteria without additional quaternization due to its enlarged surface area. Additionally, the bactericidal efficiency was enhanced by reducing the particle size, because the expanded surface area of the cationic polymer nanoparticles provides more active sites that can kill the bacteria.