Silanised

Silanisation is the chemical modification of a surface by attaching organosilane groups through condensation of silane molecules with surface hydroxyl groups, forming covalent Si–O–Si linkages. The process is used to introduce reactive or functional groups on otherwise inert substrates such as glass, silica, metals with oxide layers, or polymers that bear hydroxyl groups.

Common silane coupling agents are alkoxysilanes (R–Si(OR')3) in which the R group provides a desired functionality, such as amine (APTES), epoxy (GPTMS), thiol (MPTMS), or vinyl groups. Silanised surfaces enable subsequent coupling to polymers, biomolecules, or other inorganic or organic substrates, acting as adhesion promoters or bioconjugation platforms.

Typical procedures involve cleaning and activating the substrate to reveal surface hydroxyls, hydrolyzing the alkoxy groups of the silane (often in water or alcohol-water mixtures), and allowing the silane to react with surface OH groups either in solution or in vapour phase. After silanisation, curvature or multilayer formation can occur if hydrolysis or condensation continues; curing or annealing helps stabilize the siloxane network. Moisture control, pH, solvent choice, silane concentration, and temperature all influence layer formation, uniformity, and stability.

Applications span electronics, microfluidics, sensors, and biotechnology, where silanised or silanised surfaces enable controlled attachment of biomolecules, improved adhesion, or tailored interfacial properties. Characterization methods include contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ellipsometry to assess coverage and functional group presence.