Eliminating Diffusion Limitations at the Solid-Liquid Interface for Rapid Polymer Deposition.

Polydopamine (PDA), a bioinspired polymer, has found diverse applications including biotechnology and energy research due to its unique properties for surface modification. In recent years, the reaction conditions for dopamine polymerization and thin film growth have been thoroughly examined and optimized. The fundamental problem of diffusion limitation at the solid-liquid interface that slows down PDA deposition, however, remains to be addressed. Here, we present a physical methodology that can be added onto virtually all the current chemical conditions for rapid deposition of polymers on surface. The concept of this general technology can potentially impact other research areas dealing with solid-liquid interfaces, such as biosensing and catalysis.