For the fabrication of PDMS film on microstructured silicon mold, perfluoroctyl trichloro silane is normally used as release agent or anti adhesive layer. Can i use amino terminated silane such as APTES for the same purpose.
The aminosilane would produce the opposite effect from the fluorinated silane. When the fluorinated silane is used, the fluorine groups extrude outward from the treated surface, making the top surface like Teflon (non-stick). These groups interferes with adhesion. However, the aminosilane has a primary amine group at the end of the propyl group and often these groups will be on top of the treated silane layers in the presence of the hydrogen bond accepter such as PDMS. This then hydrogen bonds to the siloxane group increasing the adhesion between the silane layers and PDMS at the interface.