Polymeric self-assembled monolayers derived from surface-active copolymers: a modular approach to functionalized surfaces.

Physical or covalent adsorption of surface-active block or random copolymers consisting of anchoring units and functional units onto solid surfaces yields polymeric self-assembled monolayers (PSAMs) with designed chemical and morphological structures and functionalities. This tutorial review provides an overview of PSAMs derived from various types of copolymers. It also discusses design principles for PSAMs to tune interfacial and surface interactions of materials for potential applications.