Enhanced surface coverage of anchoring quaternary ammonium salts (AQAS) on oxygen-plasma treated quartz substrates

Oxygen plasma treatment was applied to atomically flat quartz surfaces in order to study the effect of surface activity on the adsorption of a silyl anchored quaternary ammonium salt biocide. Reduction of contact angle of the quartz surfaces were achieved from 72° to between 14° and 20° by applying oxygen plasma at increasing power between 100 W and 500 W. XPS analysis of the plasma-treated quartz surfaces indicated an increase in the presence...