The Role of Polarity in the Structure of Silanes Employed in Surface Modification

An overview is presented on the range of interactions between silane-treated surfaces and aqueous systems. In this context, new data for silanes in which both polar and non-polar functionalities together in a single organic substituent are presented. Significant differences in behavior are observed between silanes in which the polar substituent is proximal to the silicon atom and represents an “embedded” hydrophilicity compared to polar substituents distal to the silicon and represents a “tipped” hydrophilicity