US 7,591,937 B2
Method of fixing macro-objects to an electricity conducting- or semi-conducting surface by means of electrografting, surfaces thus obtained and applications thereof
Christophe Bureau, Suresnes (France); Guy Deniau, Auffargis (France); José Gonzalez, Le Chatelet en Brie (France); and Serge Palacin, Montigny le Bretonneux (France)
Assigned to Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, (France)
Appl. No. 10/508,665
PCT Filed Mar. 19, 2003, PCT No. PCT/FR03/00877
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Apr. 04, 2005,
PCT Pub. No. WO03/080748, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 02, 2003.
Claims priority of application No. 02 03796 (FR), filed on Mar. 26, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2005/0170195 A1, Aug. 04, 2005
Int. Cl. C25D 11/32 (2006.01); C25D 11/34 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 205—317  [205/235; 205/157; 205/149; 438/758; 438/510; 438/613; 438/22; 438/29; 29/852; 29/830; 29/831] 14 Claims
 
1. A method for attaching macro-objects to an electrically conducting or semiconducting surface by electrografting, comprising:
a) preparing an electrolyte solution comprising, in dissolved, particulate or emulsified form, at least one macro-object consisting of a macrostructural portion functionalized with at least one electroactive group and capable of resulting in the electro grafting of said macro-object to said surface, said electrolyte solution having a proton content of greater than or equal to 50 ppm, the said protons being provided by the solvents which make up said solution and/or by the macro-objects used in the course of the electrografting method and being present in the electrolyte solution; then
b) electrolyzing said solution in an electrolysis cell using the conducting or semiconducting surface to be coated as working electrode and at least one counterelectrode, so as to result, by electroreduction or electrooxidation of said solution, in a grafted coating of said macro-object or of its condensation products on said surface.