Oxidation of polystyrene aerosols by VUV-photolysis and/or ozone.

Aerosols of submicron polystyrene particles were oxidized by either vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation in the presence of molecular oxygen (O(2)) and/or by ozone (O(3)). Different degrees of oxidation and oxidative degradation were reached by VUV-photolysis depending on radiant energy, O(2) and H(2)O concentrations in the bulk gas mixture as well as on particle diameter. The same functionalization was obtained by exposing the aerosol to O(3), however, oxidation, in particular oxidative degradation, was less efficient.

Vacuum-ultraviolet photochemically initiated modification of polystyrene surfaces: morphological changes and mechanistic investigations.

Vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation (lambda(exc): 172 +/- 12 nm) of polystyrene films in the presence of oxygen produced not only oxidatively functionalized surfaces, but generated also morphological changes. Whereas OH- and C=O-functionalized surfaces might be used for e.g.